Marking one year since he narrowly survived an assassination attempt, U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that divine intervention spared his life so he could help “rescue the nation from those who seek its ruin.”
“It remains my firm conviction that God alone saved me that day for a righteous purpose: to restore our beloved Republic to greatness,” Trump said in a statement released on the anniversary of the July 13, 2024, shooting at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Calling it a defining moment, Trump said the country now stands on the brink of “a new Golden Age.”
Recalling the dramatic events, he said gunshots rang out just eight minutes into his speech at Butler Farms. “An assassin’s bullet came within a quarter inch of ending my life and silencing our movement to restore American greatness,” he wrote. “Yet, by the hand of providence and the grace of Almighty God, my life was spared.”
The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a nearby rooftop, according to the FBI. Trump sustained a minor injury to his right ear. The attack killed one supporter—firefighter Corey Comperatore—and injured two others. Crooks was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper seconds later.
In his statement, Trump praised the first responders, medical teams, and rally-goers who sprang into action during the chaos. “These men and women arrived at the rally grounds as ordinary Americans but left as heroes,” he said. “They represent the very best of our Nation.”
He offered a heartfelt tribute to Comperatore, describing him as a man of “inspiring love, valor, and faithfulness” who died shielding his wife and two daughters.
Trump also briefly referenced the incident during a speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on July 12, where he appeared behind bulletproof glass for the kickoff of the U.S. Semiquincentennial celebrations. Upon hearing distant noises resembling fireworks, he paused and said, “Did I hear what I think I heard? Don’t worry—it’s only fireworks. I hope. Famous last words.” He added, “You always have to think positive. I didn’t like that sound, either.”
Trump concluded his anniversary message by honoring the unity and courage shown that day: “Today, we pay tribute to their spirit of love, unity, and resilience—and we proclaim with one voice the epic battle cry that has reverberated across the world: Fight, fight, fight!”Tools
