Former President Donald Trump was indeed hit by a bullet or a fragment of a bullet during an attack at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed on Friday. This announcement resolves lingering questions about the nature of the injury Trump sustained during the incident.
In a statement released on Friday, the FBI clarified that the injury to Trump’s right ear was caused by a bullet. The FBI’s announcement puts to rest earlier speculation about whether the injury was caused by a bullet or shrapnel. “What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle,” the statement read.
The attack occurred on July 13 at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where Trump’s right ear was visibly bloodied following the shooting. The gunman, who fired eight bullets from outside the security perimeter of the event, was subsequently killed by a US Secret Service sniper. In the aftermath of the shooting, two rally attendees were seriously wounded, and a 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter lost his life.
Prior to this statement, there had been some ambiguity regarding the nature of the projectile that hit Trump. FBI Director Christopher Wray had previously expressed uncertainty about whether the injury was due to a bullet or shrapnel. “There was some doubt as to whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear,” Wray told US lawmakers on Wednesday.
In response to the FBI’s clarification, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to address the matter. “I assume that’s the best apology that we’ll get from Director Wray, but it is fully accepted!” Trump wrote. He had previously accused the FBI of being part of a “deep state” conspiracy against him, and the confirmation that he was hit by a bullet was seen by some as a vindication of his claims.
Earlier on Friday, Trump also shared a letter from his former White House physician, Ronny Jackson, who is now a Republican congressman from Texas. Jackson’s letter reinforced the FBI’s findings, stating, “There is absolutely no evidence that it was anything other than a bullet.”
Since the shooting, Trump has used the attack as a focal point in his campaign rhetoric. At a recent rally in Michigan, he described the incident as a significant sacrifice, claiming, “I took a bullet for democracy.” His campaign has leveraged the attack to bolster his image as a victim of political violence, which resonates with his base.
During the Republican National Convention, where he was officially nominated as the party’s presidential candidate, Trump spoke of the attack with a sense of divine providence, stating, “I have God on my side.” This portrayal has been reflected in the actions of his supporters, many of whom have started wearing bandages on their right ears as a symbolic gesture.
Despite Trump’s assertions and the FBI’s confirmation, discrepancies remain. On Thursday, Trump publicly rejected Wray’s previous comments and accused him of political bias. “It was, unfortunately, a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard. There was no glass, there was no shrapnel,” Trump stated.
A recent investigation by The New York Times has added another layer of detail to the story. The investigation, which involved a thorough analysis of bullet trajectories, footage, photos, and audio recordings, suggested that Trump was grazed by the first of the eight bullets fired by the gunman.
Trump’s campaign has yet to release any new medical reports or statements from his current physician. Instead, the campaign has continued to cite Jackson’s letter to support its narrative.
