Trump details how he escaped death — and who saved him

Donald Trump Breaks Silence One Year After Assassination Attempt: “I Got Whacked”

Nearly a year after surviving an assassination attempt, Donald Trump has opened up about the harrowing experience in an emotional interview with Lara Trump on Fox News. On July 13, 2024, Trump was grazed by a bullet during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania after a gunman opened fire from a rooftop.

The attacker, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fatally shot retired fire chief Corey Comperatore and injured two others. Trump credited the quick response of Secret Service agents and a sniper who neutralized the threat in under four seconds.

“Well, it was unforgettable… I got whacked,” Trump recalled. “One bullet hit me, one got another person, and one killed Corey — a great guy.”

In the aftermath, scrutiny fell on the Secret Service and local law enforcement for security failures. Trump criticized communication breakdowns and the lack of surveillance on nearby buildings, calling it a “rough day” for those responsible. Six agents were suspended, including one assigned to monitor the area.

Comperatore’s family publicly condemned the security lapses, saying, “Our blood is all over their hands.”

Shockingly, Trump faced another threat weeks later at his West Palm Beach golf club when a man pointed a gun through the fence. Secret Service agents intervened before harm was done.

Now the 47th President, Trump says the events remind him of the fragility of public life and the importance of vigilance. “We got a little bit lucky,” he said of the sniper’s lifesaving shot.