While delivering his speech at the closing night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Trump called for unity among Americans.
Trump vividly described the moment when the assassin’s bullet nearly struck him, missing by a mere quarter of an inch.He shared the details of the incident, stating, “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. If I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the bullet would have perfectly hit its mark. I immediately knew it was very serious, that we were under attack, and in one movement proceeded to drop to the ground.”
Trump said that the attack was swiftly ended by a Secret Service sniper, who took out the assassin with a single shot from a greater distance.
“There was blood pouring everywhere, yet, in a certain way I felt very safe because I had God on my side,” Trump said. “I’m not supposed to be here tonight.”
The crowd responded with chants of “Yes you are,” to which Trump replied, “I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God. And watching the reports over the last few days, many people say it was a ‘providential moment.’ Probably was.”
RNC LIVE: Trump gives speech at Republican National Convention Day 4
In the face of the assassination attempt, Trump described how he raised his fist in the air and began shouting “fight, fight, fight,” demonstrating his resilience and determination to continue his presidential campaign.
Trump’s speech served as the culmination of a four-day Republican rally that attracted thousands of conservative activists and elected officials to Wisconsin, a crucial swing state.
With both candidates currently facing low popularity, Trump seized the opportunity presented by his near-death experience to adopt a new tone that he believes will generate more momentum in an election that seems to be shifting in his favor.
Meanwhile, 81-year-old Democrat Biden faces mounting pressure from key congressional allies, donors, and even former President Barack Obama, who are concerned about his ability to secure reelection following his poor debate performance.