Donald Trump has granted his first media interview since surviving an assassination attempt during a rally, revealing he has revamped his upcoming speech for the Republican National Convention in response to the harrowing incident.
Speaking exclusively to The Washington Examiner’s Salena Zito, Trump disclosed that the speech originally slated to critique President Joe Biden’s policies has undergone significant revisions following Saturday’s shocking events. The former president narrowly escaped harm when a gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, resulting in the tragic death of a rally attendee before being neutralized by the Secret Service.
Reflecting on the incident, Trump recounted how his routine of facing the crowd directly may have spared his life, emphasizing the gravity of the moment. “That reality is just setting in,” he remarked, adding a somber note that had he not turned, the outcome might have been drastically different.
Trump also addressed the poignant moment when he raised his fist to reassure the audience amidst the chaos, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support. “The energy coming from the people there in that moment — they just stood there; it’s hard to describe what that felt like,” he shared, acknowledging the global attention on the incident.
The interview, conducted as Trump traveled from Bedminster, New Jersey, to Milwaukee, included a gesture of concern towards Zito’s well-being, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Despite undergoing a precautionary CT scan that yielded no concerning results, Trump remains resolute in adjusting his message to emphasize unity and national healing.
Meanwhile, President Biden addressed the nation twice on Sunday, calling for unity and denouncing the shooting as a stark reminder of the need for political temperance. “While we may disagree, we are not enemies,” Biden asserted, urging Americans to stand together in the face of adversity.
