MILWAUKEE — Donald Trump plans to bring Corey Comperatore’s firefighter helmet and jacket onto the stage during his speech at the Republican National Committee, The Washington Post has confirmed, as a tribute to the supporter who was killed in Saturday’s assassination attempt on the former president.
Comperatore, a former Buffalo County executive, was shot and killed by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who grazed the 78-year-old Republican candidate’s ear with a bullet.
Ahead of Trump’s acceptance speech, a source told The Post that Trump would not allow guests backstage before the speech because preparations for a “reveal” were underway.
Trump is scheduled to speak just after 9 p.m. local time, or 10 p.m. Eastern time, but many speakers are showing up later than scheduled.
The former president has appeared in public with his right ear bandaged since being injured in the attack.
His widow, Helen Comperatore, told The Washington Post that in his final moments, her husband bravely yelled “Get down!” and used his body to shield his family from the gunfire.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris called Comperatore a “hero” in remarks this week.