President Donald Trump marked the second anniversary of the assassination attempt at a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, by criticizing the Secret Service's handling of the event. On July 13, 2024, Trump was shot in the right ear by Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old gunman who fired from the roof of a nearby building. The incident occurred just eight minutes into Trump's speech, and the bullet grazed his ear after he turned his head to reference a chart.
Trump attributed his survival to divine intervention, telling Fox & Friends that God was with him during the attack. He also noted that his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who are experienced hunters, said the shot was nearly impossible to miss from the distance and angle Crooks was firing from.
In a separate interview, Trump criticized the Secret Service for failing to secure the outdoor venue, calling their performance a 'blown opportunity.' He referenced a 64-page report from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, which revealed that agents missed over 100 alerts from local law enforcement about Crooks before the shooting. Trump argued that the agency should have stationed an officer on the roof of the American Glass Research building, where Crooks positioned himself.
Trump praised the Secret Service counter-sniper who killed Crooks within four seconds of the first shot, calling the agent's actions 'unbelievable.' He also commended the agents who rushed to protect him, noting that they believed his injuries were more severe than they were due to heavy bleeding from his ear.
The president also reflected on the timing of the attack, stating that the chart he was referencing—a topic he rarely discussed at rallies—was placed unusually early in his speech that day. He said that if he had not turned his head to look at it, the bullet would have been fatal.
The Secret Service has not publicly responded to Trump's criticism, but the DHS report has prompted internal reviews of security protocols for high-profile events.