Two years after surviving one of the most shocking assassination attempts in modern American history, President Donald Trump is speaking publicly about the moment he believes changed his life forever.
During an appearance on Fox & Friends Monday, Trump reflected on the July 13, 2024, shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, saying he believes God’s protection allowed him to survive what could have been a national tragedy.
“I got lucky. God was watching,” Trump said.
Trump Says the Presidency Is One of America’s Most Dangerous Jobs
Trump told viewers that serving as president comes with extraordinary risks, pointing to the number of American presidents who have either been assassinated or targeted by would-be killers.
“Being president is a very dangerous profession,” Trump said. “There’s really no other profession like it.”
His comments came exactly two years after the Butler rally attack that stunned the nation and dramatically reshaped the 2024 presidential campaign.
The Butler Rally That Changed Everything
The attack unfolded during a packed campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show Grounds in western Pennsylvania.
Authorities say gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire from an elevated position outside the venue, killing rally attendee Corey Comperatore and injuring three others, including Trump.
Trump recalled initially feeling an intense sting in his right ear before realizing he had been struck by a bullet.
“I thought it was either the biggest mosquito in history or I had just been shot,” he said.
Within seconds, Secret Service agents rushed Trump to the ground while shots continued to ring out across the rally grounds.
Moments later, the president stood back up, raised his fist, and shouted “Fight!” as blood streamed down the side of his face. The powerful image quickly became one of the defining photographs of the 2024 election.
Trump Believes God Saved His Life
Trump said both Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who are experienced hunters and familiar with firearms, later told him the odds of surviving a shot from that distance were extremely small.
“They said there was almost no chance of missing,” Trump explained.
“So God was with me.”
Investigators have noted that seconds before the shooting, Trump briefly turned his head to point toward an immigration chart displayed beside the stage.
That slight movement caused the bullet to strike his ear instead of hitting him more directly.
Many supporters have since described the moment as miraculous.
Secret Service Ended the Threat in Seconds
Officials said Crooks fired eight rounds before a Secret Service counter-sniper eliminated the threat just 16 seconds after the first shot.
Despite extensive federal investigations, authorities have never publicly established a definitive motive for the assassination attempt.
The Butler shooting has widely been regarded as the closest an assassin came to killing a current or former U.S. president since the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Additional Threats Kept Security on High Alert
The Butler attack was not the last major security scare involving Trump.
Just weeks later, authorities accused Ryan Wesley Routh of positioning himself near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach while armed with a rifle. Secret Service agents spotted him before any shots were fired, forcing him to flee. He was later arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison.
Earlier this year, another security incident unfolded during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after authorities said Cole Tomas Allen forced his way through a security checkpoint and opened fire. According to investigators, a Secret Service agent was protected by a bullet-resistant vest and survived the shooting.
Butler Remains One of the Most Defining Moments of Trump’s Presidency
Two years later, the Butler assassination attempt continues to shape discussions about presidential security, political violence, and the increasingly tense political climate in America.
For Trump, however, the memory remains deeply personal.
As he reflected on the terrifying events, his conclusion was simple: he believes he is still here because God had other plans.
Whether viewed as remarkable luck or divine intervention, the events in Butler remain one of the most unforgettable moments in modern American political history.