The Trump assassination attempt left millions of Americans stunned. There’s still answers to uncover.
That’s why a CNN guest dropped this utterly jaw-dropping claim about the Trump administration.
Recently on CNN, Touré, host of the “Truth Talks” podcast, raised doubts about whether former President Donald Trump was actually shot in the ear during the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. During the incident, a bullet grazed the upper right ear of Trump after Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin, fired eight shots into a crowd at a campaign rally. The injury led Trump, then the Republican nominee, to wear a bandage over the wound.
Appearing on “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip,” Touré questioned the injury, noting that no medical professionals publicly detailed Trump’s condition. “Trump supposedly got shot in the ear,” Touré said. “We never heard from his doctors about that. When did we hear from his doctors? … We would always hear from his doctors when he got shot.”
Scott Jennings, a CNN senior political commentator, countered that the visible blood and bandage on Trump’s face were clear indicators of a gunshot wound. “Did he get shot or not? You’re saying you think he didn’t get shot?” Jennings asked. “I think it’s an important question. Are there still people who are truthers on this?”
“I wasn’t there, I don’t know! I don’t know. I’d like to hear from his doctor,” Touré responded. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray, testifying before a congressional committee on July 24, 2024, stated there was uncertainty about whether Trump was struck by a bullet or shrapnel. However, Rep. Ronny Jackson, a Texas Republican and former physician familiar with Trump’s injury, issued a statement on July 26, 2024, asserting there was “absolutely no evidence” that anything other than a bullet caused the wound.
“During the Congressional Hearing two days ago, FBI Director Christopher Wray suggested that it could be a bullet, shrapnel, or glass,” Jackson wrote at the time. “There is absolutely no evidence that it was anything other than a bullet. Congress should correct the record as confirmed by both the hospital and myself. Director Wray is wrong and inappropriate to suggest anything else.”
A New York Times photograph by Doug Mills captured a bullet near Trump’s head just before he began bleeding, providing visual evidence of the attack. Some liberal media personalities also questioned the nature of Trump’s injury. On July 17, 2024, former MSNBC anchor Joy Reid speculated on a social media platform that glass might have caused the bleeding. Similarly, MSNBC’s Ari Melber, without evidence, suggested the bandage was part of a “political quest” to garner sympathy and political support.
The July 2024 Trump Assassination Attempt Details
On July 13, 2024, former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred as Trump was addressing supporters, with 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks firing eight shots from an AR-15-style rifle. One bullet grazed Trump’s upper right ear, causing visible bleeding and prompting him to wear a bandage in subsequent appearances. The attack killed one spectator, James Copenhaver, and critically injured another, David “Jake” Dutch, before Crooks was neutralized by a Secret Service sniper.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation quickly identified Crooks as the shooter. Investigations revealed he acted alone, with no clear ideological motive immediately apparent. Authorities found explosive materials in his vehicle and home, raising concerns about the potential for further violence. Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, had no prior criminal record, though his background included a $15 donation to a progressive political action committee in 2021, which sparked speculation about his political leanings.
Security failures became a focal point of the aftermath. The Secret Service faced intense scrutiny for allowing Crooks to access a rooftop 150 yards from the stage, despite reports of suspicious behavior prior to the shooting. Local law enforcement had flagged Crooks as a person of interest after spotting him with a rangefinder, but communication breakdowns prevented timely action. Kimberly Cheatle, then-director of the Secret Service, resigned on July 23, 2024, amid bipartisan criticism over the agency’s response.
Congressional hearings followed, with former FBI Director Christopher Wray testifying on July 24, 2024, about the ongoing investigation. Wray noted uncertainty about whether Trump was hit by a bullet or shrapnel, a comment that drew sharp rebuttal from Rep. Ronny Jackson. Jackson, leveraging his medical expertise and knowledge of Trump’s injury, insisted the wound was caused by a bullet, corroborated by hospital records and a New York Times photograph showing a bullet near Trump’s head.
Public discourse around the event was polarized. Some media figures, including Joy Reid and Ari Melber, questioned the nature of Trump’s injury, with Reid suggesting glass as a possible cause and Melber implying the bandage was politically motivated. These claims, lacking evidence, fueled accusations of misinformation. Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters pointed to the visible blood and photographic evidence as proof of the attack’s severity.
The incident reshaped the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump, already a polarizing figure, used the attempt to rally his base, appearing at the Republican National Convention days later with a bandage prominently displayed.
