The FBI has confirmed that a bullet struck former President Donald Trump, rather than shrapnel or glass, during an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13. This definitive statement comes nearly two weeks after conflicting reports and ambiguous comments led to widespread speculation and controversy regarding the nature of Trump’s injuries.
On Friday, the FBI clarified that the injury sustained by Trump was indeed caused by a bullet, whether whole or fragmented.“What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle,” the FBI said in a statement. This marks the most concrete confirmation from law enforcement about the nature of the attack, following earlier statements from FBI Director Christopher Wray that seemed to cast doubt on the specifics, according to AP.
The FBI’s confirmation aims to dispel the confusion that had surrounded the incident, especially after Wray’s earlier remarks which hinted at the possibility of non-bullet injuries. His comments had provoked frustration from Trump and his supporters, fuelling conspiracy theories and casting a shadow over the investigation.
The incident took a dramatic turn when it was revealed that the bullet that struck Trump came from the rifle of the assailant who was later identified as deceased. The FBI’s statement follows days of contradictory information, with Trump’s campaign and medical team providing the primary updates on his condition.
Trump himself described the attack in graphic detail shortly after the incident, stating he had felt a bullet rip through his right ear. “I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard, on my right ear. I said to myself, ‘Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet,’” Trump recounted at a Republican National Convention speech, while wearing a large bandage over his ear.
The FBI’s reluctance to confirm the bullet wound led to mounting frustration from Trump and his allies. The delay in providing clear information about Trump’s injuries, coupled with his campaign’s refusal to release medical records or allow direct questioning of his doctors, only intensified speculation.
Dr Ronny Jackson, Trump’s former White House physician and now a Texas Congressman, has been a vocal defender of the official narrative. Jackson described Trump’s wound as a “Gunshot Wound to the Right Ear” and criticised any suggestion that Trump’s injuries might have been caused by something other than a bullet. “It was a bullet wound,” Jackson said emphatically. “You can’t make statements like that. It leads to all these conspiracy theories.”
Jackson’s medical letter, released a week after the shooting, detailed the bullet’s impact, describing a “2 cm wide wound” extending to the cartilage of Trump’s ear. This letter aimed to provide clarity amidst the conflicting accounts, asserting that the treatment Trump received at Butler Memorial Hospital was appropriate and consistent with his diagnosis.
Trump’s reaction to the FBI’s statements was one of defiance and criticism. Speaking at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump dismissed earlier suggestions that his injury might have been caused by glass or shrapnel. “Did you see the FBI today apologised?” he asked, expressing his displeasure with the confusion. “It just never ends with these people. … We accept their apology.”
In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump labelled the FBI’s mixed messages as damaging to the agency’s reputation. “No wonder the once storied FBI has lost the confidence of America!” Trump wrote. He further criticised FBI Director Wray, describing his comments as “so damaging to the Great People that work in the FBI.”
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, condemned the media for perpetuating “disgusting conspiracy theories” and emphasised the gravity of the assassination attempt that resulted in one fatality and injuries to others. “The media has no shame in engaging in disgusting conspiracy theories,” Cheung said.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, also weighed in, urging Wray to address the confusion created by his earlier statements. Graham’s letter to Wray demanded a correction, stressing the importance of clear communication to maintain the FBI’s credibility.
Meanwhile, the incident has deepened the rift between Trump and the FBI. Trump’s tenure saw him frequently at odds with the agency, particularly following the investigation into Russian election interference and the recent Mar-a-Lago document seizure.
The clarity provided by the agency aims to put to rest the conflicting narratives that have emerged in the wake of the attack. As the investigation continues, the political fallout and scrutiny of law enforcement actions are likely to persist, reflecting the deep divisions and controversies surrounding Trump and the institutions that have long been at the centre of his political battles.
On Friday, the FBI clarified that the injury sustained by Trump was indeed caused by a bullet, whether whole or fragmented.“What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle,” the FBI said in a statement. This marks the most concrete confirmation from law enforcement about the nature of the attack, following earlier statements from FBI Director Christopher Wray that seemed to cast doubt on the specifics, according to AP.
The FBI’s confirmation aims to dispel the confusion that had surrounded the incident, especially after Wray’s earlier remarks which hinted at the possibility of non-bullet injuries. His comments had provoked frustration from Trump and his supporters, fuelling conspiracy theories and casting a shadow over the investigation.
The incident took a dramatic turn when it was revealed that the bullet that struck Trump came from the rifle of the assailant who was later identified as deceased. The FBI’s statement follows days of contradictory information, with Trump’s campaign and medical team providing the primary updates on his condition.
Trump himself described the attack in graphic detail shortly after the incident, stating he had felt a bullet rip through his right ear. “I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard, on my right ear. I said to myself, ‘Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet,’” Trump recounted at a Republican National Convention speech, while wearing a large bandage over his ear.
The FBI’s reluctance to confirm the bullet wound led to mounting frustration from Trump and his allies. The delay in providing clear information about Trump’s injuries, coupled with his campaign’s refusal to release medical records or allow direct questioning of his doctors, only intensified speculation.
Dr Ronny Jackson, Trump’s former White House physician and now a Texas Congressman, has been a vocal defender of the official narrative. Jackson described Trump’s wound as a “Gunshot Wound to the Right Ear” and criticised any suggestion that Trump’s injuries might have been caused by something other than a bullet. “It was a bullet wound,” Jackson said emphatically. “You can’t make statements like that. It leads to all these conspiracy theories.”
Jackson’s medical letter, released a week after the shooting, detailed the bullet’s impact, describing a “2 cm wide wound” extending to the cartilage of Trump’s ear. This letter aimed to provide clarity amidst the conflicting accounts, asserting that the treatment Trump received at Butler Memorial Hospital was appropriate and consistent with his diagnosis.
Trump’s reaction to the FBI’s statements was one of defiance and criticism. Speaking at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump dismissed earlier suggestions that his injury might have been caused by glass or shrapnel. “Did you see the FBI today apologised?” he asked, expressing his displeasure with the confusion. “It just never ends with these people. … We accept their apology.”
In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump labelled the FBI’s mixed messages as damaging to the agency’s reputation. “No wonder the once storied FBI has lost the confidence of America!” Trump wrote. He further criticised FBI Director Wray, describing his comments as “so damaging to the Great People that work in the FBI.”
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, condemned the media for perpetuating “disgusting conspiracy theories” and emphasised the gravity of the assassination attempt that resulted in one fatality and injuries to others. “The media has no shame in engaging in disgusting conspiracy theories,” Cheung said.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, also weighed in, urging Wray to address the confusion created by his earlier statements. Graham’s letter to Wray demanded a correction, stressing the importance of clear communication to maintain the FBI’s credibility.
Meanwhile, the incident has deepened the rift between Trump and the FBI. Trump’s tenure saw him frequently at odds with the agency, particularly following the investigation into Russian election interference and the recent Mar-a-Lago document seizure.
The clarity provided by the agency aims to put to rest the conflicting narratives that have emerged in the wake of the attack. As the investigation continues, the political fallout and scrutiny of law enforcement actions are likely to persist, reflecting the deep divisions and controversies surrounding Trump and the institutions that have long been at the centre of his political battles.
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