Donald Trump’s Quick-Thinking Move That Saved Him During an Assassination Attempt

A split-second move saved Donald Trump’s life during an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, July 13. When shots were fired, Trump turned his head slightly to look at a jumbotron, which ended up saving his life.

Senior adviser Dan Scavino Jr. mentioned this in a post on X, saying, “Thank God last night’s rally was one where President Trump wanted to use and reference the jumbotron, causing him to slightly move his head just as the shots were fired. He is grateful for all the prayers, love, and support as he prepares for the GOP Convention in Wisconsin!”

The former president made a slight adjustment when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, aiming at Trump’s head. The bullet grazed his ear instead of hitting his skull, according to Israeli Special Operations veteran Aaron Cohen in an interview with Fox News. Cohen explained to Trace Gallagher that snipers are usually trained to aim for the cerebral cortex of the cerebellum, located at the top of the brain stem.

Cohen elaborated, “Such a shot incapacitates you and prevents any movement. The distance of 130 yards is quite short for a sniper; it’s like a putting distance in golf. Hitting a target with a .223 optic from that range is not difficult.” He added that if Trump’s head had been straight when the shots were fired, “it would have been lights out.” Cohen emphasized, “The fact that he just happened to be turned at that moment is what saved his life.”

‘It was a lifetime from a protection standpoint’

Meanwhile, some former federal agents suggested that the urgent attempt to escort Trump off the stage after Crooks opened fire might have put him in greater danger. Former FBI Special Agent Jonathan Gilliam told Fox & Friends First, “Having worked with the Secret Service before, I couldn’t believe how long it took to get him off the stage and into the car, and then how long it took for the vehicle to leave the area. From a protection standpoint, it was a lifetime.”

“A lot of people on the news didn’t want to criticize the Secret Service, but as I watch this again, I’m shocked at how things played out,” said Gilliam. “It seemed like they were making up the defense and evacuation of Trump as they went along, which is not how this elite service should operate in such situations.”

Former FBI Director Chris Swecker agreed, describing the attempt on Trump’s life as “almost a kill shot.” He added, “If there had been a second shooter, there would have been plenty of opportunities to attack again. This breaks all the Secret Service protocols and general rules of executive protection.” Swecker called the rally’s security “a breakdown from start to finish.”

“The Secret Service’s main job is to prevent such actions and react quickly to get the president out of danger. Neither happened here, so while I don’t want to be too harsh, it was definitely a security failure,” Swecker said.

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