President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he believes divine intervention spared his life “for a righteous purpose” during the July 2024 assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, as the nation marked one year after the harrowing attack.
Reflecting on the shooting, Trump recalled that just eight minutes after taking the stage on the grounds of Butler Farms, a bullet “came within a quarter inch” of taking his life. One of the bullets grazed his right ear before Secret Service agents rushed him to safety.
Describing the incident as “one of our nation’s darkest hours,” Trump said the one-year mark served as a reminder that the American spirit has and always will “triumph over forces of evil and destruction.”
In his statement, Trump remembered the doctors and first responders who aided the injured, the rallygoers who helped guide others to safety, and the patriots who raised their fists in solidarity and national pride.
“These men and women arrived at the rally grounds as ordinary Americans, but left as heroes. They represent the very best of our Nation, and we are forever indebted for their kindness and compassion,” he said.
Trump called Comperatore a hero, saying that his name “stands above all for selfless service and ultimate sacrifice on that fateful day.”
“The world will never forget the tragic loss of Corey Comperatore, a firefighter, veteran, and devoted husband and father,” he said. “He died a hero, and we are eternally grateful for his inspiring love, valor, and faithfulness.”
Two other spectators were injured in the gunfire but survived. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired eight shots from a rooftop before being shot and killed by Secret Service counter-snipers. No motive has been ascribed to him by the FBI.
After the shooting, numerous questions were raised about the Secret Service’s capacity to protect politicians, while the agency’s then-director, Kim Cheatle, resigned after a contentious congressional hearing in which she was asked about the assassination attempt.