Trump credits immigration chart for saving his life, doctor says he came 'quarter of an inch' from dying

Former President Trump ‘inches away from having his face shot open’ by assassin’s bullet during Pa. rally

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MILWAUKEE — Former President Donald Trump credits an immigration chart for saving his life Saturday — as he turned to look at Border Patrol statistics during his rally speech and moved his head “a quarter of an inch” and avoided being shot in the head by a nearby gunman.

The former president was in the middle of giving his rally remarks in Butler, Pa., when he suddenly turned his head to the right to view the chart that was on screen next to the stage.

In that moment, a gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, fired on Trump.

Trump said he looked at the chart “early” and was then shot in the ear, instead of the head, Fox News’ Brett Baier said of their phone interview Sunday.

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who was Trump’s White House physician, also described speaking to Trump about the life-saving chart in a conversation with the New York Times.

“He goes, ‘The Border Patrol saved my life,’” Jackson told the outlet on Sunday. “‘I was going over that Border Patrol chart.’ He said, ‘If I hadn’t pointed at that chart and turned my head to look at it, that bullet would have hit me right in the head.’”

The 45th president described the events happening “so quickly” and then dropping down and being protected by Secret Service agents, Baier said, adding that Trump is “amazed that it happened. He understands that he’s blessed to be where he is today.”

Trump specifically referenced a picture that New York Times photographer Doug Mills took that showed the bullet flying through the air and said the doctor he spoke to said “if that bullet was a quarter of an inch different position, he would not be talking to that doctor today,” Baier went on.

After he got shot, Trump said, he “really wanted to go back and say a couple of things, but the Secret Service had none of that,” Baier said, noting that the former president “wanted to express to the crowd that he was okay.”

Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:

Trump was transported to a nearby hospital Saturday night for a medical checkup. Afterward, he flew to New Jersey.

He posted on Truth Social on Sunday he would be going to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention as scheduled, despite the shooting.

He “will make [the shooting] a theme here in the convention and may be making some changes based on what he says, what others are doing,” Baier said of their conversation.

Everything we know about the Trump assassination attempt

20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified as the shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents.
The gunman grazed Trump’s ear, killed a 50-year-old retired fire chief, and injured two other rally-goers.
Investigators detailed Crooks’ search history to lawmakers, revealing that he looked for the dates of Trump’s appearances and the Democratic National Convention.
Crooks’ search history also revealed a broad interest in high-profile people and celebrities, regardless of their political affiliation, FBI officials reportedly said.
Trump exclusively recounted surviving the “surreal” assassination attempt with The Post at the rally, remarking, “I’m supposed to be dead.”
High-profile politicians, including President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, addressed the nation about the shooting, calling it “a heinous, horrible and cowardly act.”

He specifically said that the decision to invite former 2024 rival Nikki Haley to speak was one of those changes, Baier said.

Trump also told Baier some details of his conversation with President Biden on Saturday night.

“He praised President Biden for the phone call that he gave him,” Baier said. The former president also said the two expressed condolences for the victim who was fatally shot at the rally.

“He’s worried about how things are going to develop in the country, but said he’s really pleased with how the Secret Service acted,” Baier said of Trump.