Ladies and gentlemen, today we're diving into a gripping analysis by The New York Times about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. This report challenges recent claims that Trump was only grazed by shrapnel and not actually struck by a bullet. Let's break down the key findings from this detailed investigation.
First off, there's been a lot of buzz about whether Trump was hit by a bullet or just shrapnel. This all started when FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress that there was some uncertainty about the nature of the injury. But The New York Times decided to dig deep, examining bullet trajectories, footage, photos, and audio to get to the bottom of it. Their conclusion? A bullet, not debris, wounded Trump.
The analysis included expert input from Rob Maher, an audio forensics expert at Montana State University. The Times highlighted a live video feed capturing Trump's reaction to the gunshots. Maher pointed out that Trump is seen reaching for his ear between the sound of the first and second shots, a key detail indicating he was hit early in the shooting spree.
New York Times does detailed analysis of bullet trajectories, video, photos, and audio of shooting at Trump rally. They conclude Trump was most likely grazed by the first of eight bullets fired by the gunman, and not shrapnel or something else. pic.twitter.com/wTg87GXylc
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) July 26, 2024
The shooter, a 20-year-old man, fired a total of eight shots: a volley of three followed by five more. The first shot, which is believed to have hit Trump's ear, then struck the bleachers on his left.
Tragically, Corey Comperatore, a firefighter and father, was killed during the second round of shots. The Times suggested that Comperatore might have been hit because the gunman adjusted his aim lower as Secret Service agents moved Trump to the ground.
In response to these findings, Trump criticized FBI Director Wray for suggesting that the injury might have been caused by shrapnel. Trump took to Truth Social, asserting that it was indeed a bullet that hit his ear, refuting any claims of shrapnel or glass. He expressed frustration with the FBI's handling of the situation, pointing out that the hospital confirmed it was a bullet wound.
Adding to the fallout, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced tough questions from lawmakers about the apparent security lapse.
The shooter managed to gain access to a roof just 130 yards away from the rally stage, a significant breach in security. Cheatle admitted the failure in protecting Trump and resigned shortly after.