The classified documents case against former president Donald Trump has been dismissed by Florida judge Aileen Cannon, citing a violation of the appointments clause — that Special Counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutionally named to investigate the case.
Cannon was appointed by Trump. An appeal is expected.
The former president has said he is “supposed to be dead” after being wounded in a “surreal” shooting incident at his latest campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night.
A full day after the Republican was clipped in the right ear by a sniper’s bullet, the motive of gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks remains a mystery, with investigators saying they believe he acted alone. Secret Service agents fatally shot him.
President Joe Biden has meanwhile used a rare Oval Office address to implore Americans to “cool it down” in the final stretch of this year’s election race and “resolve our differences at the ballot box”.
The president has ordered an independent security review of the attack, which also killed a bystander and critically wounded two others.
After returning to his home in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump is now at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to accept his party’s invitation to be its 2024 presidential nominee.
Key Points
- BREAKING: Judge dismisses Trump classified documents case
- Trump reflects on ‘surreal’ assassination attempt: ‘I’m supposed to be dead’
- Biden gives forceful Oval Office address following Trump assassination attempt
- Melania Trump breaks silence with plea for Americans to come ‘together as one’
- FBI names Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as shooting suspect
Swalwell: ‘Mad man’ Trump is back
16:44
Oliver O'Connell
I knew this mad man would soon be back. He’s incapable of unifying peanut butter and jelly. For Trump it’s always been me, me, me first (& only) pic.twitter.com/DDW539ieRR
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) July 15, 2024
Trump describes split-second moment that saved his life after assassination attempt
16:30
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has said that he’s “supposed to be dead” as he spoke out about the split-second moment that saved his life when a would-be assassin opened fire during a campaign rally at the weekend.
In one of his first interviews since the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, the former president described his survival as a “miracle” and claimed that it had given him new perspective heading into the Republican National Convention to “unite the country.”
Rachel Sharp has the details.
Full story: Judge dismisses Donald Trump’s classified documents case
16:20
Oliver O'Connell
Alex Woodward reports:
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s classified documents case involving the retention of government files at his Mar-a-Lago compound has dismissed the case.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed to the bench by Trump, has ruled that appointment of special counsel Jack Smith violated the Constitution.
“In the end, it seems the Executive’s growing comfort in appointing ‘regulatory’ special counsels in the more recent era has followed an ad hoc pattern with little judicial scrutiny,” Cannon wrote in an order on Monday.
The decision follows two days of courtroom hearings over whether Smith’s appointment and funding are constitutional.
Continue reading...
Trump’s attempted assassin rejected from school gun club for being a ‘bad shooter’
16:15
Oliver O'Connell
The 20-year-old gunman who tried to assassinate Donald Trump at a campaign rally was previously rejected from his high school shooting club because he was “a bad shooter”, it has been revealed.
Rachel Sharp has the details.
Schumer calls classified docs ruling ‘breathtakingly misguided'
16:12
Oliver O'Connell
Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calls the dismissal of the classified documents case against Donald Trump by Judge Aileen Cannon “breathtakingly misguided”.
In a statement released by his office he says: “This breathtakingly misguided ruling flies in the face of long-accepted practice and repetitive judicial precedence. It is wrong on the law and must be appealed immediately. This is further evidence that Judge Cannon cannot handle this case impartially and must be reassigned.”
Trump reacts to dismissal of classified documents case
16:06
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has reacted to the dismissal of the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.
He wrote on Truth Social:
As we move forward in Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts — The January 6th Hoax in Washington, D.C., the Manhattan D.A.’s Zombie Case, the New York A.G. Scam, Fake Claims about a woman I never met (a decades old photo in a line with her then husband does not count), and the Georgia “Perfect” Phone Call charges. The Democrat Justice Department coordinated ALL of these Political Attacks, which are an Election Interference conspiracy against Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, ME. Let us come together to END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!
There is absolutely no evidence of any weaponization of the justice system against Trump.
Judge dismisses Trump’s classified documents case: Read the court order in full
16:00
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump’s classified documents case was dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday, ruling that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith violated the Constitution.
Cannon, who was appointed to the bench by the former president, wrote in the bombshell order: “In the end, it seems the Executive’s growing comfort in appointing ‘regulatory’ special counsels in the more recent era has followed an ad hoc pattern with little judicial scrutiny.”
Because Smith wasn’t named as special counsel by the president or confirmed by the Senate, his appointment violated the appointments clause of the Constitution, she ruled.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump’s favorite legal scholar hails judge’s dismissal of classified documents case
15:55
Oliver O'Connell
Academic and legal analyst Jonathan Turley — often cited by Donald Trump in pleading innocence and alleged persecution — has hailed Judge Aileen Cannon’s decision to dismiss the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case over the appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel.
He wrote on X: “The dismissal of the classified documents case is a seismic development. From the beginning of all of these cases, I have said that the Mar-a-Lago case was the greatest threat to the former president. It is now dismissed.”
...Judge Cannon's decision mirrors the views of many leading lawyers who see the same constitutional flaw that led Justice Clarence Thomas to expressly raise his issue in his recent opinion...
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) July 15, 2024
...This opinion is still an outlier among the courts that have reviewed the question. Other courts have given short shrift to the issue. Judge Cannon was criticized for giving this challenge a full opportunity for briefing and argument in her court.
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) July 15, 2024
Guns allowed in soft perimeter of Milwaukee RNC
15:50
Oliver O'Connell
Guns will still be allowed in the soft security perimeter of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee despite an attempt by local officials to ban them from the area completely. Wisconsin is an open-carry state.
Firearms will not be allowed in the core hard perimeter controlled by the Secret Service.
Local officials did succeed in banning paintball guns and tennis balls from the entire security zone.
Guns WILL BE allowed within walking distance of the RNC. Tennis balls won’t.
— Jay O'Brien (@jayobtv) July 15, 2024
Local officials have expressed concern in the wake of the Trump assassination attempt.
Red area = “hard perimeter.” Guns NOT allowed there. Controlled by Secret Servixe
Yellow = “soft perimeter.”… pic.twitter.com/HINQtCbM7M
‘Morning Joe’ and ‘The Daily Show' cancel Monday editions
15:43
Oliver O'Connell
MSNBC and Comedy Central have cancelled Monday airings of Morning Joe and The Daily Show following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on Saturday.
Joe Sommerlad has the details.
MTG celebrates major blow to Jack Smith but warns ‘Democrats won’t stop'
15:39
Oliver O'Connell
Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene took to X to celebrate a “major blow” to Jack Smith and the “weaponized DOJ” after Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case against Donald Trump.
She continues to perpetuate the baseless conspiracy that the Department of Justice has been weaponized to persecute Democrat enemies, rather than investigating and prosecuting criminal activity.
Jack Smith and the weaponized DOJ has been dealt a major blow.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) July 15, 2024
But the Democrats won’t stop.
They are going to keep going after every single one of us who opposes their agenda.
We have to keep pushing forward. https://t.co/9gl3CaBND4
Legal experts expect an immediate appeal over classified docs ruling
15:35
Oliver O'Connell
Georgetown law professor Steve Vladeck says Judge Aileen Cannon’s ruling to dismiss the classified documents case against Donald Trump based on the appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel is “wrong six ways from Sunday” and will “immediately be appeal to the Eleventh Circuit”.
“To me, the only question is whether the Special Counsel also asks for the case to be reassigned on remand…” he asks.
This ruling (which is wrong six ways from Sunday) can (and will) be immediately appealed to the Eleventh Circuit.
— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) July 15, 2024
To me, the only question is whether the Special Counsel also asks for the case to be reassigned on remand… https://t.co/GMoZahpiiA
Legal scholar Laurence Tribe notes: “DOJ must appeal right away. On SCOTUS, only Justice Thomas took that view in Trump v. United States. This finally gives Jack Smith an opportunity to seek her removal from the case. I think the case for doing so is very strong.”
Judge Cannon just did the unthinkable: She dismissed the Trump classified documents case on the repeatedly rejected basis that DOJ violated the Constitution’s Appointments Clause by appointing Special Counsel Smith at all! DOJ must appeal right away. On SCOTUS, only Justice…
— Laurence Tribe ⚖️ (@tribelaw) July 15, 2024
Law professor Barbara McQuade concurs: “Dismissal of Trump documents case may actually be good news for Jack Smith, who can now immediately appeal to 11th Circuit and ask for case to be reassigned to a new judge. But more delay...”
Dismissal of Trump
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) July 15, 2024
documents case may actually be good news for Jack Smith, who can now immediately appeal to 11th Circuit and ask for case to be reassigned to a new judge. But more delay … https://t.co/N17Ttx6cLW
Senior Democrat fires aide over post urging Trump shooter ‘don’t miss next time’
15:30
Oliver O'Connell
A staff member who worked for Democratic representative Bennie Thompson is no longer employed by the lawmaker after she allegedly posted “Don’t miss next time” in an apparent response to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump on Saturday.
The now-former case worker and field office manager at Thompson’s Natchez office, identified as Jacqueline Marsaw by reports, had resigned from her position shortly after her social media post started to circulate, local reports state.
Amelia Neath reports.
Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate calls for suspension of negative ads
15:20
Oliver O'Connell
Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick, who was at the Trump campaign rally in Butler during the assassination attempt on the former President, has called on his opponent to both suspend negative advertising.
He posted on X: “I agree with President Biden and propose to Senator Bob Casey we both suspend our negative advertising.”
“This is a time to come together as Americans to recognize that what makes our country and its people exceptional transcends party,” he continued. “Let’s take some time to put aside the negativity.”
In light of the assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler, I agree with President Biden and propose to Senator @Bob_Casey we both suspend our negative advertising.
— Dave McCormick (@DaveMcCormickPA) July 15, 2024
This is a time to come together as Americans to recognize that what makes our country and its people…
BREAKING: Judge dismisses Trump classified documents case
15:11
Oliver O'Connell
Judge Aileen Cannon has dismissed the Trump classified documents case, citing a violation of the appointments clause — saying the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional.
BREAKING: Judge Cannon has dismissed the Trump documents case, citing violation of appointments clause: pic.twitter.com/GPV9jXYAfZ
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 15, 2024
Watch here:
BREAKING: Judge Cannon dismisses the classified documents case against Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/lnEBtTMvWc
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 15, 2024
Read the full statement from director of US Secret Service
15:10
Oliver O'Connell
US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has released her first statement since the assassination attempt against Donald Trump on Saturday evening.
“I would like to start by extending my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Corey Comperatore, who was killed during the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, as well as those who were injured during this senseless act of violence.
Secret Service personnel on the ground moved quickly during the incident, with our counter sniper team neutralizing the shooter and our agents implementing protective measures to ensure the safety of former president Donald Trump.
Since the shooting, I have been in constant contact with Secret Service personnel in Pennsylvania who worked to maintain the integrity of the crime scene until the FBI assumed its role as the lead investigating agency into the assassination attempt. I have also been coordinating with the protective detail for former President Trump and have briefed President Biden on the details of the incident.
The Secret Service is working with all involved Federal, state and local agencies to understand what happened, how it happened, and how we can prevent an incident like this from ever taking place again. We understand the importance of the independent review announced by President Biden yesterday and will participate fully. We will also work with the appropriate Congressional committees on any oversight action.
The incident in Pennsylvania has understandably led to questions about potential updates or changes to the security for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The U.S. Secret Service, in conjunction with our Federal, state and local law enforcement and public safety partners, designs operational security plans for National Special Security Events (NSSE) to be dynamic in order to respond to a kinetic security environment and the most up-to-date intelligence from our partners.
I am confident in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday’s shooting. The security plans for National Special Security Events are designed to be flexible. As the conventions progress, and in accordance with the direction of the President, the Secret Service will continuously adapt our operations as necessary in order to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers and the City of Milwaukee. In addition to the additional security enhancements we provided former President Trump’s detail in June, we have also implemented changes to his security detail since Saturday to ensure his continued protection for the convention and the remainder of the campaign.
The Secret Service is tasked with the tremendous responsibility of protecting the current and former leaders of our democracy. It is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously, and I am committed to fulfilling that mission.”
King Charles writes to Trump after assassination attempt
15:00
Joe Sommerlad
The British monarch is the latest global figure to reach out to the Republican after his ordeal over the weekend.
New UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke to him on Sunday.
Emma Guinness has more.
Shooter purchased ammunition hours before shooting, report says
14:51
Oliver O'Connell
CNN is reporting that Donald Trump’s would-be assassin bought 50 rounds of ammunition just hours before the shooting at a local gun store.
The network cites a senior law enforcement official.
Update: FBI investigating as shooter’s phone sent to Quantico lab
14:39
Oliver O'Connell
Scott MacFarlane of CBS News reports that evacuation orders have been lifted in the neighborhood where shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks lived in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
There were earlier fears that there might be bomb-making materials at the property.
The FBI is now investigating the incident and Crooks’ phone has been sent to the FBI lab at Quantico, Virginia.
Evacuations are lifted here in the shooter’s neighborhood of Bethel Park, PA. There concerns about bomb making materials in home.
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) July 15, 2024
Shooter’s phone is at FBI lab in Quantico, Va
This is an FBI probe pic.twitter.com/3OIONEvmic
Reid Hoffman and strategist forced to apologise over Trump comments
14:30
Joe Sommerlad
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has apologised after a recent joke he made about Trump being “martyred” in conversation with Republican mega-donor Peter Thiel was recirculated on social media in the wake of Trump’s shooting on Saturday.
First and everything: There is no place for political violence in our society. Assassination is not only categorically wrong, but is also the assassination of democracy. It is abhorrent that anyone has tried to assassinate President Trump. Everyone, on all sides of this…
— Reid Hoffman (@reidhoffman) July 14, 2024
Hoffman’s political adviser Dmitri Mehlhorn has also been forced to apologise after suggesting in an email that the attack could have been a false flag operation organised on the Republican’s behalf to gain political sympathy.
The email, obtained by Semafor, found Melhorn arguing: “This is a classic Russian tactic, such as when Putin killed 300 civilians in 1999 and blamed it on terrorists to ride the backlash to winning power.
“Others who have embraced this tactic of committing raw evil and then benefitting from the backlash include Hamas on October 7.
“If any Trump officials encouraged or knew of this attack, that is morally horrific, and Republicans of decency must demand that Trump step down as unfit.”
Mehlhorn did also acknowledge the other possibility that “some crazy anti-Trumper in this chaotic moment decided to assassinate the former president”, which appears to be much closer to the truth.
He subsequently apologised in a statement, saying: “We must unite in condemnation of such violence in every instance, without reservation. Any other topic is a distraction.”
Amelia Neath has more.
Morning Joe and The Daily Show cancelled on Monday after Trump assassination attempt
14:00
Joe Sommerlad
The MSNBC breakfast politics show and the Comedy Central satire with Jon Stewart will not be airing today as the networks try to ensure their output remains sensitive in light of the attack on the presumptive Republican presidential candidate.
Tune in to @msnbc tomorrow morning for continued coverage of the attempted assassination of former President Trump.
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) July 15, 2024
Regularly scheduled @Morning_Joe will return on Tuesday.
See you Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/zqrK5XxKzE
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 14, 2024
In the UK, Channel 4 pulled a vintage episode of The Simpsons on Sunday, “Lisa the Iconoclast”, seemingly because it features a political assassination joke.
Maira Butt has more on that.
Whitmer denounces Trump assassination attempt
13:30
Joe Sommerlad
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, who was herself the target of a disturbing kidnap plot foiled by undercover FBI agents, has denounced the shooting of Trump as “disgusting” and “alarming” in a 15-tweet thread in which she cites numerous other examples of violence against American politicians and blames the heated rhetoric of our moment for encouraging extremism.
The shooting of former President Trump was a disgusting act of violence that caps off an alarming, years-long trend in our politics.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) July 14, 2024
Fox pundit pushes back on claim Democrats alone responsible for divisive political rhetoric
13:00
Joe Sommerlad
Jessica Tarlov has once been doing sterling work pushing back on dishonest Republican opportunism in her role as Voice of Reason on Fox News.
Jessica: I want to push back on what David was saying that this is a problem that came from the Democratic side… But the rhetoric out of the Republican side, out of Donald Trump himself or Don Jr. about the attack on Paul Pelosi… pic.twitter.com/ECcDawjb0X
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 14, 2024
Anderson Cooper also deserves a mention for refuting the same argument on CNN when it was put forward by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Anderson Cooper to Mike Johnson: "The former president himself has also used that kind of rhetoric. He said on June 27, 'Biden is a threat to democracy, a threat to the survival & existence of our country itself.' That's certainly the same kind of language you're talking about" pic.twitter.com/GBtuFiNm5l
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 14, 2024
Secret Service denies diverting resources from Trump to Jill Biden
12:30
Joe Sommerlad
With Trump’s security detail facing questions about how the shooter was able to access the rooftop from which he fired on the candidate, the Secret Service’s spokesman Anthony Guglielmi has denied reporting that his team were under-resourced because they had reassigned operatives to protect the first lady instead of the Republican.
Susan, this is very wrong. We did not divert resources from FPOTUS Trump & protection models don't work that way. As far as "field office teams" these are the candidate nominee operations teams that are added during election years for the heavy travel tempo. https://t.co/ulf45qLAsO
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) July 15, 2024
Kimberly Cheatle, the Secret Service’s director, has meanwhile said she is “confident” about her agents’ security plan for the RNC this week.
Here’s more on the fallout from Justin Rohrlich.
Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks spotted in BlackRock ad as school gun club rejection emerges
12:00
Joe Sommerlad
This is a very strange development indeed...
Meanwhile, here’s Rachel Sharp on Crooks being rejected from his school’s gun club because he was considered a poor shot.
Elon Musk says he wants to build Iron Man suit after Trump assassination attempt
11:30
Joe Sommerlad
The SpaceX/Tesla/X chief has suggested he could build an Iron Man-style “metal suit of armour” following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
“Dangerous times ahead,” Musk said, also claiming there have already been attempts to take his life “in the past eight months” by two people on “separate occasions”.
Vishwam Sankaran reports.
Melania Trump breaks silence over assassination attempt on husband with plea for Americans to come ‘together as one’
11:00
Joe Sommerlad
The former first lady broke her silence over the attack on her husband yesterday, making an impassioned plea for Americans to come “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,” Melania said in a statement.
“I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.”
She reportedly spoke with her successor Dr Jill Biden yesterday, NBC reports.
First lady Jill Biden spoke with former first lady Melania Trump this afternoon, a White House official says. https://t.co/D3b1drQxAj
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) July 15, 2024
Here’s more from Kelly Rissman.
Eric Trump posts video of father’s plane touching down in Milwaukee for RNC
10:30
Joe Sommerlad
The president’s middle son posted this cockpit footage from “Trump Force One” last night, apparently keen to get back to business as usual.
Touchdown in Milwaukee with @realdonaldtrump #TrumpForce1 pic.twitter.com/vkO5ZUPXG6
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) July 14, 2024
Yesterday, Eric remembered his late mother Ivana and said his father’s survival had been a case of “divine intervention”, having been quick to praise his old man as a “fighter” in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Two years ago today, we lost this incredible woman! I have no doubt she was watching down on my father last night - it was nothing short of divine intervention… pic.twitter.com/fIAOZoL9S9
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) July 14, 2024
This is the fighter America needs! pic.twitter.com/77xES5kBRO
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) July 14, 2024
Biden gives forceful Oval Office address following Trump assassination attempt: ‘We are not enemies’
10:00
Joe Sommerlad
President Joe Biden forcefully condemned the assassination attempt on Trump in a rare Oval Office address on Sunday evening, saying it was time to “lower the temperature” of politics as the country heads into the final months of election season.
Even Fox News had to admit the commander-in-chief got this one right.
Fox guest: I thought President Biden’s speech met the moment tonight. Voters wanted him to remind us that we are not enemies and he did that pic.twitter.com/9msAnztr8C
— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) July 15, 2024
Eric Garcia has this on Biden’s fine words.
Truth Social: ‘UNITE AMERICA!’ declares Trump
09:30
Joe Sommerlad
Here’s a reminder of the Republican’s social media statements since Saturday’s shocking attack.
UNITE AMERICA!
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 14, 2024
Donald Trump Truth Social 02:09 PM EST 07/14/2024 @realDonaldTrump
Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a “shooter,” or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else. Therefore, I will…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 14, 2024
Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 14, 2024
I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 14, 2024
Trump reveals he tore up his convention speech after Saturday's shooting
09:01
Joe Sommerlad
The Republican has also been speaking to The Washington Examiner and revealed that he’s had to come up with a whole new speech for the RNC this week in light of Saturday’s events.
“The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,” Trump lamented.
“Had this not happened, this would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches. Honestly, it’s going to be a whole different speech now.”
Asked by the Examiner how he was coping with the shock of it all, he said: “That reality is just setting in. I rarely look away from the crowd.
“Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?”
Trump reflects on ‘surreal’ assassination attempt: ‘I’m supposed to be dead’
08:35
Joe Sommerlad
Good morning!
Donald Trump has given an exclusive interview to The New York Post reflecting on the attempt on his life at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, when an assassin’s bullet grazed his right ear.
“The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle,” said Trump, who, the Post reports was wearing a loose, large white bandage that covered his ear.
“I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said.
“I’m supposed to be dead.”
Asked about why he was caught on a mic talking about his shoes when Secret Service agents dragged him to the ground behind his lectern after the shots rang out, Trump explained: “The agents hit me so hard that my shoes fell off, and my shoes are tight.”
On the death of the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, the former president said: “They took him out with one shot right between the eyes.
“They did a fantastic job,” he added. “It’s surreal for all of us.”
On him pumping the air with his fist as he was led away bloodied by the agents, Trump said: “A lot of people say it’s the most iconic photo they’ve ever seen.
“They’re right and I didn’t die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic picture.”
Rachel Sharp reports.
Former fire chief identified as spectator killed during Trump rally shooting
08:00
Oliver O'Connell
The rally-goer who was killed at Donald Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania campaign event-turned-shooting was identified as 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, according to his sister.
Kelly Rissman reports.
‘I don’t know what to say’: Family of Thomas Crooks struggles to make sense
07:28
Namita Singh
As questions swirl about the would-be assassin who shot former president Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally on Saturday, the shooter’s family is also struggling to make sense of what happened.
The FBI identified the gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who lived with his parents in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park.
Crooks, who was perched on a nearby rooftop, was shot dead by the Secret Service shortly after bloodying Trump’s ear with a round investigators believe came from an AR-15 assault-style rifle found at the scene.
Read the details in this exclusive from my colleague, Justin Rohrlich:
