Butler, Pennsylvania, July 2024 – Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a rally on Saturday evening, and a split-second head turn may have saved his life, experts say.
According to New York Post, Trump, 78, turned to his right to look at a jumbotron while addressing the crowd at the Butler Farm Show grounds. Senior adviser Dan Scavino Jr. explained that Trump wanted to “use and reference the jumbotron,” which led to the crucial movement.
This minor adjustment occurred just as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired a shot aimed at Trump’s head. The bullet grazed Trump’s ear instead of penetrating his skull. Israeli Special Operations veteran Aaron Cohen detailed the event on Fox News, explaining that the bullet’s trajectory was altered by Trump’s turn.
“Snipers are typically trained to shoot into the cerebral cortex or the cerebellum at the top of the brain stem,” Cohen said, speaking to host Trace Gallagher. “This incapacitates you, it keeps your hands from moving. It’s about the distance of the shot. One hundred thirty yards. That’s a putt. Anyone can put a two, two, three optic on a target from that distance and hit it. It’s not a difficult shot to make,” he added.
Cohen emphasized that if Trump’s head had been straight when Crooks fired, “it would have been lights out.” The fact that Trump’s head turned at that exact moment is what saved his life, the expert asserted.
Other security experts agreed with Cohen’s assessment. Gilliman, an ex-Secret Service agent, explained that the angle of Trump’s turn made the difference. “He just happened to be turned this way with that shot coming in is what saved his life,” Gilliman said.
This incident highlights the critical nature of even the smallest movements in life-threatening situations. Trump’s instinctual turn to look at the jumbotron, initially seen as a simple act, proved to be a life-saving maneuver.
