AFTER FBI CHIEF RAISES DOUBT, ANALYSIS SAYS DONALD TRUMP’S EAR WAS GRAZED BY BULLET
Nearly two weeks after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, there is still no official report clarifying the cause of the wound on his right ear, leading to widespread speculation. An analysis by The New York Times, involving bullet trajectories, footage, photos, and audio, suggests that Trump was grazed by the first of eight bullets fired by the gunman, Thomas Crooks. Subsequent bullets wounded two rally attendees and killed a third. FBI chief Christopher Wray noted there was uncertainty about whether a bullet or shrapnel hit Trump's ear, adding that he didn't know if the bullet, in addition to causing the grazing, could have landed elsewhere.
The controversy arose after a House Judiciary Committee meeting where Wray discussed the uncertainty surrounding the cause of Trump's ear wound from the shooting at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Trump, who had appointed Wray, strongly disagreed, insisting there was no glass or shrapnel and that the hospital had called it a "bullet wound to the ear."
Confusion persisted as Trump claimed he was hit by a bullet, while his campaign has not released any official medical reports. Instead, a memo from his former White House physician, Ronny L. Jackson, supports Trump's claim. The Secret Service has not commented, and the FBI is investigating metal fragments found near the stage.
The Times' analysis, supported by audio forensics expert Rob Maher, highlights a live video feed showing Trump's reaction to the first three gunshots. Trump is seen reaching for his ear after the first shot, and his fingers appear bloodied immediately after. The first bullet seems to have passed him and struck the bleachers, injuring rally attendee David Dutch. The investigation revealed that Crooks fired eight shots in total before being killed by Secret Service snipers. The incident has prompted a congressional investigation into security lapses, with the director of the Secret Service resigning amid the scrutiny.
Earlier, Trump criticized Wray on Truth Social, alleging that the FBI failed to thoroughly investigate the attempt on his life. Trump accused Wray of being out of touch with the reality of crime in the US and misplacing his focus. Earlier, Trump criticized Wray on Truth Social, claiming that the FBI failed to thoroughly investigate the attempt on his life. "FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively 'uneventful' – Wrong!" Trump wrote. He accused Wray of being out of touch with the reality of crime in the US and misplacing his focus.