King Charles writes letter of support to Donald Trump after would-be assassin shot him in ear at rally
KING Charles has written a letter of support to Donald Trump after he was shot in the ear at a Pennsylvania rally.
The former US President yesterday called Saturday’s assassination attempt a “very surreal experience”.
Defiant Donald Trump dodged an assassin’s bullet by pure luck by turning his head at the “exact right time” and said yesterday: “I’m supposed to be dead.”
The former US President said the sniper’s bullet only grazed his ear instead of going through his skull due to what he assessed as a 1,000 to one stroke of good fortune.
His comments came as Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday that King Charles had written a private letter to Mr Trump offering his support following the attack.
Yesterday, further details of Saturday’s assassination attempt at a Republican rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, continued to emerge.
Police revealed that gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20 — who was shot dead — bought 50 rounds of ammunition at a local gun store just hours before.
Video footage emerged of rally attendees pointing out Crooks on the roof to police before he fired at Mr Trump just after 6pm local time.
Witnesses also saw a cop attempting to climb on to the roof of the building where the gunman was lying, before releasing his grip and falling to avoid being shot.
Questions have continued to be asked over the blunders as analysis showed how Mr Trump saved himself by chance by moving his head slightly to look at a chart showing US illegal immigration figures.
Just as he did so, Crooks fired his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle — meaning the bullet went through the top of the 45th President’s ear, not his skull.
Bloodied Mr Trump, who was belatedly bundled to the ground by security, said: “The most incredible thing was that I happened to not only turn but to turn at the exact right time and in just the right amount.
“If I only half-turn, it hits the back of the brain. The other way goes right through [the skull]. And because the sign was high, I’m looking up.
“The chances of my making a perfect turn are probably one tenth of one per cent — so I’m not supposed to be here.”
Mr Trump had on a red Make America Great Again baseball cap as he stood on the podium when the bullet hit his ear.
Ex-fire chief Corey Comperatore, 50, was hit and killed as he shielded his family from the gunfire. Two others were wounded.
In a second interview yesterday while flying by private jet to Milwaukee for a national convention, Mr Trump called the assassination bid a “very surreal experience”.
He said: “The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle.
Fist in defiance
“I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead.”
Mr Trump, who apparently had a large white bandage covering his injured right ear on the “no photos” flight, explained why he was heard asking about his shoes.
The tycoon, 78, who still attempted to address the rally as Secret Service officers surrounded him, said: “The agents hit me so hard that my shoes fell off, and my shoes are tight.”
As he was led away, the Republican presidental nominee lifted a fist in defiance and was heard to shout “fight” three times.
Referring to pictures of the moment, he said: “A lot of people say it’s the most iconic photo they’ve ever seen. They’re right — and I didn’t die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic picture.
“I just wanted to keep speaking, but I just got shot. By luck or by God, many people are saying it’s by God, I’m still here.”
Mr Trump also praised Secret Service agents for gunning down Crooks.
He said: “They took him out with one shot right between the eyes. They did a fantastic job. It’s surreal for all of us.”
He said he planned to speak to relatives of Mr Comperatore — and go to his funeral — as well visit the injured and talk to their families.
He said: “Get the numbers, I want to go to the hospital and call all the families.”
Loner gunman Crooks had fired his shot from a rooftop around 130 yards from where Mr Trump was standing but outside a secure perimeter where everyone was searched.
Crooks, from nearby Pittsburgh suburb Bethel Park, was “neutralised” by Secret Service snipers seconds later.
Officer, he’s on the roof — why? Right here, guy on the roof
Bystander
Armed officers were seen standing over his body.
The Secret Service had set up a supposedly secure perimeter around the rally while local cops were in charge of the building Crooks used.
Footage emerged yesterday showing onlookers pointing out the gunman minutes before the attack.
One man is heard to say: “Someone’s got up on the roof — you see him laying down?”
And a woman shouts: “Officer, he’s on the roof — why? Right here, guy on the roof.”
It is believed Crooks used a ladder to climb up and was also reportedly seen “acting strangely” on the roof and pacing around.
Donald Trump Rally Shooting Timeline
Donald Trump was shot at his Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
1pm: Doors open at the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump was expected to speak at 5pm.
4:11pm: Sean Parnell gave the opening speech.
4:35pm: David McCormick rallied the crowd.
5:30pm: Crowds were still waiting for Trump.
6:03pm: Trump takes the stage.
6:11pm: Gunshots were fired as Trump delivered remarks.
6:12pm: Trump was ushered off stage by Secret Service agents.
6:42pm: Secret Service confirmed Trump is safe.
7:24pm: The shooter and one rally attendee are confirmed dead by law enforcement officials.
8:42pm: Trump confirms he was shot in the ear, sharing a statement on Truth Social.
8:49pm: The Secret Service confirms the shooter and a rally attendee are dead. Two others remain critically injured.
Bystander Mike DiFrischia, who took a video, said: “They (police) looked at us and said, ‘Where’s he at?’. One officer did try to climb on top of the building . . . he let go and fell to the ground.”
Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe said: “The officer had both hands on the roof to get up . . . never made it because the shooter had turned towards the officer, and rightfully, the officer let go.
“That individual should not have accessed that location to have a line of sight with his rifle. It is completely unacceptable.”
The FBI said Crooks, who had bomb-making materials in his car, acted alone.
Someone’s got up on the roof — you see him laying down?
Bystander
They said his motive was unclear for what they described as a case of domestic terrorism.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has been swamped with goodwill messages — including from his Democrat election rival, President Joe Biden, alongside that from King Charles, whose message was delivered by way of the UK Embassy in Washington, DC.
Also yesterday, Mr Trump won a major victory after a judge ruled prosecutors had no authority to bring a case alleging he mishandled secret documents on leaving office in 2021.
He faced decades in jail if convicted.
The ex-President used the news to insist three other “witch-hunts” against him should be dropped.
He said: “The Democrat justice department coordinated all of these political attacks, which are an election interference conspiracy against Joe Biden’s political opponent, me.”