In a recent heartfelt conversation, Donald Trump opened up about a deeply emotional incident involving his wife, Melania. She was forced to witness a terrifying situation as an attempt on his life was broadcasted live on television.
This frightening event occurred on July 13 when a 20-year-old named Thomas Matthew Crooks made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Trump. Fortunately, the former president emerged unscathed from this terrifying ordeal.
During a discussion with Laura Ingraham, Trump was asked about Melania’s reaction to the traumatic event.
He reflected, “She was watching. She was watching live. It was everywhere, on every channel.”
While he considers her reaction a mark of her love and concern, Trump noted that Melania still finds it difficult to speak about that day.
She doesn’t really want to talk about it. It’s hard for her. But, you know, it means a lot. She cares, she’s really caring,” he remarked.
Melania, amid the chaos, feared the worst as she saw the events unfold, thinking something dire had occurred because of the confusion surrounding Trump.
Trump also expressed his concern for the Secret Service personnel during those intense moments.
I just want to highlight the bravery of the Secret Service. They acted quickly. Bullets were all over, yet they managed to protect me,” he praised.
Despite appreciating their swift action, Trump admitted there were critical lessons learned from that day.
Thinking of his devoted supporters, Trump noted, “There should’ve been vigilant individuals on guard, coordinating with local law enforcement to monitor this troubled man.”
Following the failed assassination attempt, then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned.
Trump voiced his gratitude to the counter-sniper who intervened and stopped Crooks.
He also mentioned plans to share a “victim statement” with the FBI in the near future.
In private conversations, it became known that, contrary to initial FBI reports of a quicker response, Crooks stayed at the location for more than 90 minutes before making his move.
Before his shift ended around 4:26 pm, an attentive countersniper spotted Crooks on a nearby picnic table, a turning point in the unfolding crisis.
That Saturday, Crooks’ father reached out to the authorities, concerned because his son hadn’t returned home as expected.
It was also revealed that Crooks had attended Trump’s rally just three hours before the shooting, carrying items that should have been suspicious, such as a rangefinder, which is typically used for precision targeting.
Despite his troubling presence, Crooks was neither approached nor stopped until the situation escalated.
Crooks climbed a rooftop, aiming at both Trump and former volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore.
In a surprising twist, Crooks had left a chilling farewell message to his employer, indicating that he wouldn’t be back until Sunday.
Adding more shock, FBI Director Christopher Wray disclosed that before the attack, Crooks had been researching online about comparable historic events, including the distance at which Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK.
Just two hours before his Pennsylvania attack, Crooks was operating a surveillance drone close to the stage and possessed three explosives, as revealed by the FBI to Congress.
During Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania, which almost ended in tragedy, the Secret Service efficiently whisked him away to safety.
The independent action of a counter-sniper in neutralizing Crooks was confirmed by the FBI.
Following these alarming incidents, Kimberly Cheatle resigned amid increasing scrutiny.
During a tense Congressional hearing, Cheatle accepted blame for oversight failures.
She made a shocking admission that numerous warnings about suspicious activities were received before Trump’s appearance.
There was significant criticism regarding the lack of critical security procedures, like stationing an agent on the rooftop, raising serious questions about Cheatle’s leadership.
