Former President Donald Trump began his speech accepting the GOP presidential nomination by describing in the greatest detail yet being the target of an assassination attempt — and said he may never tell the story again.
Trump’s remarks in Milwaukee on Thursday were his first major address since he was shot at a campaign rally Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooting, which injured Trump and two other people and killed a man, has loomed over the Republican National Convention this week.
Here’s what Trump, wearing a bandage over his injured right ear, told convention attendees:
“Let me begin this evening by expressing my gratitude to the American people for your outpouring of love and support following the assassination attempt at my rally on Saturday. As you already know, the assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life.
“So many people have asked me what happened … and therefore, I will tell you what happened, and you’ll never hear it from me a second time, because it’s actually too painful to tell.
“It was a warm, beautiful day in the early evening in Butler Township in the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Music was loudly playing, and the campaign was doing really well. I went to the stage, and the crowd was cheering wildly. Everybody was happy. I began speaking very strongly, powerfully and happily because I was discussing the great job my administration did on immigration at the southern border. We were very proud of it.
“Behind me and to the right was a large screen that was displaying a chart of border crossings under my leadership. The numbers were absolutely amazing. In order to see the chart, I started to turn, like this, to my right, and was ready to begin a further turn, which I’m lucky I didn’t do, when I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me, really, really hard, on my right ear.
“I said to myself, ‘Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet,’ and moved my right hand to my ear, brought it down, and my hand was covered with blood. There was absolutely blood all over the place. I immediately knew it was very serious, that we were under attack, and in one movement proceeded to drop to the ground.
“Bullets were continuing to fly as very brave Secret Service agents rushed to the stage — and they really did, they rushed to the stage. And at great risk, I will tell you. And they pounced on top of me for protection. There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way I felt very safe, because I had God on my side. I felt that.
“The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had not moved my head at the very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be with you tonight. We would not be together.
“The most incredible aspect of what took place on that terrible evening in the fading sun was seen later. In almost all cases, and when even a single bullet is fired — just a single bullet, and we had many bullets that were being fired — crowds run for the exits or stampede, but not in this case. Very unusual.
“This massive crowd of tens of thousands of people stood by and didn’t move an inch. In fact, many of them bravely, but automatically, stood up looking for where the sniper would be — they knew immediately it was a sniper — and then began pointing at him. …
“Nobody ran, and by not stampeding, many lives were saved. But that isn’t the reason they didn’t move. The reason is that they knew I was in serious trouble, they saw me go down, they saw the blood, and actually, most did, they thought I was dead. …
“This beautiful crowd, they didn’t want to leave me, and you can see that love written all over their faces. … Bullets were flying over us, yet I felt serene — but now the Secret Service agents were putting themselves in peril. … And then it all stopped. Our Secret Service sniper, from a much greater distance and with only one bullet used, took the assassin’s life. Took them out.
“I’m not supposed to be here tonight. I’m not supposed to be here. …
“I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God. In watching the reports over the last several days, many people say it was a providential moment. Probably was.
“When I rose, surrounded by Secret Service, the crowd was confused because they thought I was dead, and there was great, great sorrow. I could see that on their faces. …
“But I could see it and wanted to let them know I was OK. So I raised my right arm, looked at the thousands and thousands of people that were breathlessly waiting and started shouting ‘fight, fight, fight.’
“Once my clenched fist went up, high into the air —you’ve all seen that — the crowd realized I was OK and roared with pride for our country, like no crowd I have ever heard before. Never heard anything like it.
“For the rest of my life, I will be grateful for the love shown by that giant audience of patriots that stood bravely on that fateful evening.
“Tragically, the shooter claimed the life of one of our fellow Americans, Corey Comperatore — unbelievable person, everybody tells me — and seriously wounded two other great warriors, spoke to them today, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, two great people.
“I also spoke to all three families of these tremendous people. Our love and prayers are with them, and always will be. We’re never going to forget them. They came for a great rally. They were serious Trumpsters, and still are, but Corey, unfortunately, we have to use the past tense.
“He was incredible. He was a highly respected former fire chief, respected by everybody. He was accompanied by his wife, Helen, incredible woman. I spoke to her today, devastated, and her two precious daughters. He lost his life selflessly acting as a human shield to protect them from flying bullets. He went right over the top of them and was hit. What a fine man he was.
“I want to thank the fire department and the family for sending his helmet. His outfit, and it was just something, and they’re going to do something very special when they get it, but we did something which cannot match what happened, not even close. But I am very proud to say that over the past few days, we’ve raised $6.3 million. …
“And again, when speaking to the family, I told them, I said, well, we’re going to be sending you a lot of money, but it can’t compensate. They all said the same thing. You’re right, sir. We appreciate so much what you’re doing, but nothing can take the place. In the case of Corey and the other two, by the way, they were very, very seriously injured, but now they’re doing very well. They’re going to be OK. They’re going to be doing very well.
“They’re warriors, so now I ask that we observe a moment of silence in honor of our friend Corey.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others.”
