Trump Reflects on Assassination Attempt at Pennsylvania Rally

During a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, President Trump remarked that the Secret Service “had a bad day” when bullets came alarmingly close to him—within a quarter of an inch. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in their abilities, stating, “I have great confidence in these people.”

In an interview airing on Fox News Channel’s “My View,” Trump, who is 79, described the experience as “unforgettable.” He recounted, “I didn’t know exactly what was going on. I was banged. I had no doubts about it. And fortunately, I came down quickly. People cried.”

He also highlighted the efforts of a specific agent, known as David, who worked as a countersniper for the Secret Service: “He just said, he worked on his business, it was just under four seconds, and that was when everything stopped, and he got him completely from a very long distance.”

The incident occurred on July 13, 2024, when a shooter fired at Trump during the rally, resulting in one fatality and two injuries. A Senate report later criticized the Secret Service for its handling of the situation, citing “operational failure.”

On Wednesday, the Secret Service announced disciplinary actions against six officials due to their performance during the incident. Trump mentioned that he was “pleased” with the briefing he received regarding the aftermath. “They must have had someone in the building. That was a mistake,” he noted.

Despite the chaos, he maintained that he has significant trust in his security detail. “I know people. And they are very talented and very capable. But they had a bad day. I think they’ll admit it. They had a rough day.”