Former President Donald Trump cited the assassination attempt that took place during a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, saying that Harris and the Democrats' words and actions “probably got me a bullet in the head.”
“I may have received a bullet in my head because of what they said about me. They talk about democracy. I am a threat to democracy. They are the threat to democracy,” Trump said onstage at a debate in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Trump was the victim of an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July when gunman Matthew Crooks shot Trump in the ear, wounded two spectators and killed local father and firefighter Corey Comperatore.
“It wasn't me who used the weapon, it was her,” Trump said, referring to Harris. “She used the weapon.”
Trump assassination attempt: Video goes viral offers new perspective on deadly shooting at rally
A new poll ahead of Tuesday's ABC News presidential debate shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading former President Trump by 8 percentage points among Virginia voters. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
After Trump said he was “probably” shot because of Democrats' rhetoric, Harris said Trump would “weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies.”
Melania Trump questions Trump assassination attempt in promotional video for new memoir
“So, at the extreme, let's understand what the situation is with the 2024 election. The United States Supreme Court recently ruled that if a former president enters the White House again, he will essentially be immune from any wrongdoing,” she said.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (R) and former U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during the second presidential debate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Tuesday, September 10, 2024. (Getty Images)
“This is a man who has publicly vowed to destroy the Constitution of the United States and use the Department of Justice as a weapon against his political opponents. And this is a man who has openly expressed contempt for our military personnel. If Donald Trump returns to the White House unchecked, that means we know for sure that the courts will not be able to stop him,” Harris added.
Trump assassination attempt: Whistleblower claims security was 'grossly unprepared'
Trump was seen with a bandaged ear at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee days after the assassination attempt and has since recovered from the incident.
Former First Lady Melania Trump joins Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump onstage after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump formally accepted the presidential nomination during the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 18, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
Trump and Harris shared the stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia in their first face-to-face debate since President Biden dropped out of the race amid growing concerns about his mental health.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Following the attempt, President Trump has said he plans to return to Butler County, Pennsylvania, in October to hold another rally.
Get the latest 2024 election campaign updates, exclusive interviews and more on Fox News Digital's Election Hub.
