Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania which left one rally attendee dead and two others critically injured, with the bullet slightly grazing his ear due to a head tilt that saved his life.
This has intensified a sense of divine protection among his supporters, potentially reshaping the 2024 presidential race.
A slow-motion video reveals how a simple head tilt saved Trump from an assassination attempt.
Trump, 78, had just begun his speech when shots rang out, and a bullet grazed his right ear. Quick-acting Secret Service agents swarmed and shielded him, with some footage showing Trump tilting his head moments before the shot, which many believe saved his life.
He grabbed his right ear and looked at his hand before dropping to his knees behind the podium.
About a minute later, he emerged with his face streaked with blood, pumping his fist in the air and shouting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by Secret Service snipers.
The attack has invigorated some of Trump's supporters, who see his survival as a sign of divine intervention. On social media platforms and at the Republican National Convention, Trump was hailed as being protected by God.
Internet celebrities and supporters shared Bible verses and illustrations depicting divine intervention.
Prominent figures like Franklin Graham and Trump campaign spokeswoman Caroline Sunshine echoed these sentiments, attributing his survival to a higher power.
Furthermore, Trump campaign spokeswoman Caroline Sunshine attributed Trump's survival to "divine intervention," calling the left "godless."
Read more: Timeline of shooting at Trump's Pennsylvania rally
Matthew Sutton, a Washington State University historian, stated that the assassination attempt confirms for Trump's supporters that he is God's chosen one to bring salvation to the United States and the world.
The assassination attempt, occurring just days before Trump’s unanimous nomination, has amplified a sense of destiny among his backers.
Some experts, like former Republican strategist Steve Schmidt, believe the incident could give Trump's campaign an "immense" boost, although it is too early to gauge its impact on polling.
Trump, who has rarely been overtly religious, has increasingly referenced God in the wake of the attack. On his Truth Social platform, he called the incident a “miracle” and attributed his survival to divine intervention. His family and close associates have echoed these sentiments, sharing religious imagery and messages of gratitude for his protection.
After the shooting, Christian users and pastors online also cited scripture as evidence that God had spared Trump.
The shooting has raised sharp questions about security for presidential candidates. Despite the heightened threat, Trump’s campaign has expressed confidence in the measures in place and emphasized resilience and faith in the face of adversity.
Historians and political analysts have noted parallels to past events where political figures were seen as divinely protected. The notion of Trump as a messianic figure has been a recurring theme among his supporters, particularly within the evangelical community, who view him as a defender of their values.
As the nation processes the shock of the assassination attempt, the narrative of divine protection continues to shape the discourse around Trump’s candidacy, reinforcing the fervor of his supporters and adding a new dimension to the 2024 election campaign.
The attack was the first shooting of a US president or major party candidate since the 1981 attempted assassination of Republican President Ronald Reagan.
The shooting occurred less than four months before the November 5 election.
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