Donald Trump says, “I should be dead by now” in first interview since shooting

Former President Donald Trump thrust his fist in the air upon arriving in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, mirroring his reaction after surviving an assassination attempt.

Trump, narrowly escaping death, was targeted by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks during a campaign rally.

Stepping off his plane at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Trump appeared defiant and was met with cheers from supporters.

He then proceeded to his hotel in a motorcade.

In his first interview after the attack, Trump, with a bloodied ear, told the NY Post: “I’m supposed to be dead. Because the thing [bullet] was an eighth of an inch away. That I would turn exactly at that second, where he [the gunman] wouldn’t stop the shot is pretty amazing. Pretty amazing. I’m really not supposed to be here.”

Earlier, Trump announced on his Truth Social site that he would delay his trip by two days due to the assassination attempt. However, he later declared, “I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.”

I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump's rally and we send him and his family our best wishes.

Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 14, 2024

Nearly 2,500 delegates are gathering in Milwaukee this week for a roll call vote to select the Republican presidential nominee. The outcome is expected to be unsurprising, as Trump has been the presumptive nominee for months.

Trump and President Joe Biden are currently locked in a closely contested election rematch, according to most opinion polls.

Sola Adeniji

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