In a recent interview, former President Donald Trump recounted a phone call he had with President Joe Biden following an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. During this incident, a gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire on Trump, narrowly missing him and instead grazing his ear. The attack occurred just as Trump began speaking, and he credited a split-second decision to turn his head to look at a chart as the reason he avoided a potentially fatal shot.
Trump described the conversation with Biden as “nice,” revealing that Biden remarked, “You’re lucky you turned to the right,” acknowledging the fortuitous timing of Trump’s movement that saved his life. Trump responded affirmatively, saying, “I think so,” which highlighted the gravity of the situation they were discussing.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Trump faced immediate medical concerns. Secret Service agents initially believed he had been shot in the abdomen due to the significant amount of blood, but Trump insisted he was only injured in the ear. He refused to be taken off the stage on a stretcher, stating, “I’m telling you, I’m OK. I’m fine. I’m going to get up. I want to get up” despite the agents’ insistence.
The shooting left one person dead and two others injured, and Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper shortly after the attack began. Trump later met with Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, expressing his concerns about the agency’s preparedness and the security lapses that allowed the incident to occur.
This incident and the subsequent dialogue between Trump and Biden underscore the intense political climate and the personal risks faced by public figures in today’s environment.