“My Struggle Back from the Brink of Death in Pennsylvania Has Made America Even Greater” – President Donald Trump

“My Struggle Back from the Brink of Death in Pennsylvania Has Made America Even Greater” – President Donald Trump

[July 13, 2025] – Exactly one year ago, on July 13, 2024, former and now current U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. That harrowing moment has since become a dramatic turning point in American history—one that not only altered Trump’s life but also reshaped the course of U.S. politics.

That day, as Trump stood on stage presenting statistics about the drop in illegal immigration during his first term, a terrifying gunshot rang out. Suddenly stopping mid-sentence, he said:

“This chart is from a few months ago, and if you really want to see something tragic, just look at what happened…”

And then—gunfire.

A bullet grazed Trump’s ear, causing blood to pour as he collapsed to the ground. Panic erupted—screams filled the air, Secret Service agents rushed in, and chaos swept through the frightened crowd.

“Fight! Fight! Fight!” – A Nation’s Symbol of Courage at Death’s Door

In those moments, as the Secret Service moved to shield him, Trump stood back up with a bloodied face, raised his right fist, and shouted three times:

“Fight! Fight! Fight!”

The crowd roared back: “U-S-A! U-S-A!”

Saved by a Millimeter

The would-be assassin, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired eight shots from a rooftop. One of the bullets barely missed Trump’s right ear by a single millimeter.

The attack claimed the life of 50-year-old firefighter, husband, and father Corey Comperatore. Two others were injured. Secret Service snipers shot and killed the attacker. The FBI continues to investigate, though no clear motive has yet been identified.

Trump Recalls: “I Didn’t Know What Was Happening”

“I didn’t understand what was happening. There was a loud blast and I felt an impact. People were screaming. I dropped to the ground immediately—and that probably saved my life.”

Former campaign manager Susie Wiles recalled:

“We all thought he was dead. But when he stood up—we just said, ‘Oh my God!’”

A Chart That May Have Saved His Life

Wiles explained that a nearby immigration chart on stage had been placed slightly higher up, causing Trump to tilt his head upward to refer to it.
That small motion may have shifted him just enough to avoid certain death.

Secret Service Overhaul and a Turning Point in Security

Following the attack, the Department of Homeland Security released a report in October stating:

“The Secret Service has failed to function with sufficient efficiency. It is bureaucratic, technologically outdated, and slow to respond to threats.”

Six agents were subsequently dismissed, and sweeping new security reforms were initiated.

Bandaged but Unbroken – Trump Returns to the Stage

Just days later, Trump appeared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee with a bandage over his ear. His voice filled with emotion and resolve, he told the crowd:

“I wasn’t supposed to be here tonight.”

The audience roared: “You were meant to be!”

“Some say this was God’s plan. Maybe it was. When I stood up, everyone thought I was dead. I simply raised my hand—showed them I was alive. Then I said—‘Fight! Fight! Fight!’”

“God spared Donald Trump by just a millimeter. Today, one year later, he is fighting for America with more determination than ever—‘Fight, Fight, Fight.’”