After the assassination attempt on Trump, a dispute has erupted over what hit him. The head of the FBI spoke of open questions – this was promptly followed by opposition and criticism from Trump. Now the agency has clarified: It was a bullet.
After unclear statements by the FBI chief, the federal police have confirmed that former US President Donald Trump was wounded by a bullet at a campaign rally in the state of Pennsylvania. “What struck former President Trump in the ear was a whole bullet or one that had been fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased's rifle,” the FBI said in a statement.
Trump responded on his online mouthpiece Truth Social: “I assume this is the best apology we're going to get from Director Wray, but it's fully accepted!”
Previously, FBI chief Christopher Wray had said in a hearing before the US Congress: “With regard to former President Trump, there are questions as to whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.” Republican congressman Jim Jordan then said: “As far as I know, the first shot was the one that hit the President. (…) Or is that not correct?” Wray responded, among other things: “I don't know.”
Trump: “No, it was a bullet”
Trump had taken issue with the FBI chief's statements in a series of posts on Truth Social. “No, unfortunately it was a bullet that hit my ear, and it hit me hard. There was no glass or shrapnel,” Trump wrote. There were also rumors that Trump might have been hit by a piece of glass. “No wonder the once historic FBI has lost America's trust,” said the Republican presidential candidate.
Trump's former personal physician from his time in the White House, Ronny Jackson, also said in a written statement: “There is absolutely no evidence that it was anything other than a bullet.” According to US broadcaster CNN, the FBI announced on Thursday that investigators were continuing to examine bullet fragments and other evidence of the attack on Trump.
One dead in assassination attempt on Trump
Almost two weeks ago, a gunman opened fire at a campaign rally in the town of Butler in the state of Pennsylvania and shot Trump. While he was only injured, a man in the audience died. Two other participants in the rally were seriously injured. The perpetrator was shot by a Secret Service sniper.
Trump has now announced that he wants to return to the site of the assassination attempt. He has not yet given any details about the planned event in Butler.
