A former United States president, Donald Trump, has narrated what transpired on the night a sniper almost took his life at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Gunshots had interrupted the former president as he delivered his speech, leaving him with a grazed right ear.
Describing the moments that preceded the assassination attempt, Trump attributed his survival to divine intervention.
“It was a warm, beautiful day in the early evening in Butler Township in the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” he began.
“Music was loudly playing, and the campaign was doing well. I went to the stage, and the crowd was cheering wildly.
“I began speaking very happily because I was discussing the great job my administration did on immigration at the southern border. Behind me and to the right was a large screen that was displaying a chart of border crossings under my leadership. The numbers were amazing.
“In order to see the chart, I started to turn to my right, and was ready to begin a further turn, which I’m lucky I didn’t, when I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me, really hard, on my right ear.
“I said to myself, ‘Wow, what was that — it can only be a bullet,’ — and moved my right hand to my ear, brought it down, and my hand was covered with blood. I immediately knew it was very serious, that we were under attack, and in one movement, proceeded to drop to the ground.
“Bullets continued to fly as very brave Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and pounced on top of me for protection. There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way I felt very safe, because I had God on my side.
“The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had not moved my head at the very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be with you tonight.
“Bullets were flying over us, yet I felt serene — but now the Secret Service agents were putting themselves in peril.”
Trump thanked the crowd for not panicking and causing a stampede.
“In fact, many of them bravely, but automatically, stood up looking for where the sniper would be, and then began pointing at him,” he said.
The former president’s speech ended the Republican convention which saw him officially accept the ticket to be the party’s presidential candidate in the November election.
Before the convention, Trump announced JD Vance, a 39-year-old senator from Ohio, as his running mate.
