![Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower to head to court for Stormy Daniels hush money case.](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/07/14112623/donald-trump-e1720970797835.jpg?)
Donald Trump Reveals The Reasoning Behind His Head Turn That Seemingly Saved His Life
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on July 16, 2024 at 2:30 PM EDT
Former President Donald Trump nearly lost his life over the weekend after 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks shot off six to eight rounds, one of which grazed the 78-year-old's right ear.
The attempted assassination at the Pennsylvania rally on Saturday left two dead, including the gunman, and two injured.
Shortly before the shots were fired, Donald Trump turned his head, which many believe saved his life.
Why Did Donald Trump Turn His Head?
![Former US President Donald J Trump makes an early appearance on the first night of the Republican National Convention](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/07/16093150/donald-trump-bandaged-ear-scaled.jpg?)
In a phone conversation between Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump in the moments following the attempted assassination, the former President told RFK that he spoke to Joe Biden, who asked him why he turned his head at that exact moment at the rally.
Per TMZ, Trump says he told Biden he turned because he was referring to a chart, which was an indictment of Biden's immigration policies.
The head turn is believed to have saved Trump's life, as the bullet shot from Crooks' gun skimmed the former President's right ear. If he were to be facing forward, the bullet could have gone into his head.
Donald Trump Reveals What The Shot Felt Like
![Trump's ear wounded in Pennsylvania rally attack](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/07/14104822/donald-trump-rally-scaled.jpg?)
Also, during the conversation with RFK Jr., Trump said the shot that grazed his ear "felt like the world's largest mosquito, and it was ... it was a bullet. What do they call that an AR-15? That was a big gun ... pretty tough guns, right?"
An AR-15-style rifle was found at the scene, which was later confirmed to have been registered to the suspect's father. It was purchased legally.
Crooks also purchased 50 rounds of ammo on the morning of the Trump rally.
The Former President Confirms He Was Shot In The Ear
![Trump rushed into SUV after attempted assassination](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/07/14104834/donald-trump-attempted-assasination-scaled.jpg?)
Shortly after the attempted assassination, Trump confirmed with the nation that a bullet hit his right ear, but he will be okay.
"I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin," he wrote in a Truth Social post shortly after being rushed away from the rally. "Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening."
"GOD BLESS AMERICA!" he concluded.
Melania Trump Breaks Silence On The Attempted Assassination
![Donald Trump and Melania Trump hold hands as they depart Amalija Knavs' funeral at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Church in Palm Beach, FL.](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/03/21084532/MEGA1084702_046-scaled.jpg?)
On Sunday, former First Lady Melania Trump broke her silence regarding the attempted assassination.
"I am thinking of you, now, my fellow Americans. We have always been a unique union," she began. "America, the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, but our courage and common sense must ascend and bring us back together as one. When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron's life were on the brink of devastating change."
The former First Lady then called the shooter a "monster who recognized [Donald Trump] as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald's passion - his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration."
"The core facets of my husband's life - his human side - were buried below the political machine," Melania added. "Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times. Let us not forget that differing opinions, policy, and political games are inferior to love. Our personal, structural, and life commitment - until death - is at serious risk."
"Political concepts are simple when compared to us, human beings. We are all humans, and fundamentally, instinctively, we want to help one another," she said.
One Man Dies At Donald Trump Rally
![United States President Donald J. Trump makes remarks accepting the 2020 Republican Party nomination for President of the US](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/06/28092926/donald-trump-speech-1-scaled.jpg?)
While Trump survived the attempted assassination, one rallygoer did not. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro later identified him as Corey Comperatore, a former local fire chief.
“His wife shared with me that he dove on his family to protect them,” Shapiro said, per the Associated Press. “Corey was a girl dad. Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey loved his community. Most especially, Corey loved his family."
Two others, David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, were injured in the shooting and are in stable condition.
A motive for the shooting is still under investigation, but the FBI confirmed the rifle was purchased legally by Crooks' father and that explosive devices were found in the shooter's car.