DONALD Trump WAS hit in the ear by a bullet, the FBI has confirmed – just days after its director suggested he wasn’t.
Bureau boss Christopher Wray said Wednesday there was “some question” about whether or not it was “a bullet or shrapnel” that hit the former president during an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
Trump furiously hit back at the suggestion Thursday night, insisting he was hit in the ear and “hit hard.”
In a statement on Friday evening, the FBI said “what struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle.”
It comes two days after FBI Director Wray said before Congress that it wasn’t clear if Trump’s injuries were caused by a bullet or shrapnel.
He told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that it was “conceivable” the bullet fired at the former President “in addition to causing the grazing, could have also landed somewhere else.”
Trump has vividly described his injury, saying that he came within “a quarter inch” of death.
He also vowed to return to Butler, Pennsylvania, where Thomas Crooks, 20, opened fire at his campaign rally, hitting Trump and killing Corey Comperatore, who attended the event with his family.
Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social that he would host a “big and beautiful rally honoring the soul of our beloved firefighting hero, Corey, and those brave patriots injured two weeks ago.
“What a day it will be – fight, fight fight! Stay tuned for details.”
Trump was addressing his supporters at the campaign rally when Crooks opened fire from a nearby rooftop.
Cameras were rolling as the former President took cover as shots rang out, grabbing onto his ear in pain.
Crooks was killed by Secret Service counter snipers just moments later but the shooting is still under investigation.
While speaking to the committee, FBI Director Wray said, “With respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.”
However, Texas Representative Ronny Jackson, who once served as the White House physician under then-President Trump disputed Wray’s testimony.
The news comes as:
“There was no evidence it was anything other than a bullet,” Jackson wrote in a letter posted to X.
“Congress should correct the record as confirmed by both the hospital and myself. Director Wray is wrong and inappropriate to suggest anything else.”
Weeks after the shooting, US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned from her position, admitting that the agency failed its duty to protect the nation’s leaders.
Before her resignation, Cheatle faced extreme backlash over the Secret Service’s actions during the assassination attempt.
President Joe Biden, meanwhile, praised Cheatle on July 17 for her “selfless” dedication.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was grazed by a bullet while speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
Donald Trump was not critically injured and is expected to make a full recovery. He has since made his first public appearance after the shooting.
“She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service,” Biden said in a statement.
“We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our Administration and we are grateful for her service to our family.
“As a leader, it takes honor, courage, and incredible integrity to take full responsibility for an organization tasked with one of the most challenging jobs in public service.”
Biden confirmed that an independent review into the security at the campaign rally is ongoing.
Jackson added that he has been treating Trump following the attack and agrees with the assessment made by doctors at Butler Memorial Hospital on the day of the shooting.
Medical records about Trump’s injury haven’t been released and there are no official accounts from the state or federal government.
The FBI said in a statement that the shooting is still under investigation.
“The FBI’s Shooting Reconstruction Team continues to examine evidence from the scene, including bullet fragments, and the investigation remains ongoing.”
