Donald Trump’s senior campaign advisor says the former president life was saved by his decision to reference charts on the jumbotron at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.
Dan Scavino Jr. said a slight move of Trump’s head to the visual aid on screen was the reason a bullet grazed his ear rather than went through his head.
‘Thank God last nights rally was one in which President Trump wanted to use and reference the jumbotron, causing him to slightly move his head at the moment shots were fired,’ he wrote on X Sunday morning.
Scavino added: ‘He is grateful for all of the prayers, love, and support out there, as he prepares for the GOP Convention in Wisconsin!’
Donald Trump turned his head slightly to the left to reference a jumbotron chart at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday – likely saving his life from a would-be assassinator’s gunfire
Earlier in the rally, Trump acknowledged he was ‘going off the teleprompter’ and wanted to dive into southern border policy first. He asked his team to bring up charts on the jumbotron screen showing immigration statistics.
This is when he turned his head to the side just before a handful of pops were heard and the former president grabbed his ear before ducking behind the podium.
The gunman was neutralized by U.S. Secret Service seconds after he shot at Trump. One rally goer caught in the crosshairs died and two others are critically injured and still in the hospital, according to authorities.
Video of the incident shows that right before Trump was struck in the ear, he turned his head slightly to look at the screen over his right shoulder – a head jerk that likely spared him from graver injuries, or even death.
Just after the former president slightly moved his position, the bullet appeared to strike him in the ear as he moved his hand to the side of is head and ducked behind the podium.
In the top right corner of the video, a fast-moving grey spot, which may be the bullet, appeared at the eight second mark.
A picture captured by The New York Times photographer Doug Mills shows a bullet whizzing through the air by Trump’s head as he holds onto his ear with his head turned to the right.
Thank God last nights rally was one in which President Trump wanted to use and reference the jumbotron, causing him to slightly move his head at the moment shots were fired. He is grateful for all of the prayers, love, and support out there, as he prepares for the GOP Convention…
— Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) July 14, 2024
Trump raises a first with blood streaking his face as members of his U.S. Secret Service security detail wrangle him off stage at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally on Saturday after an assassination attempt
