Trump says after attempted murder at rally in Pennsylvania: “I should be dead”

Former President Donald Trump told reporters on his flight to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention that he “should be dead” after the attack during a rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend.

Trump, whose right ear was grazed by a bullet only minutes after taking the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, told the New York Post and Washington Examiner in an interview on Sunday that he would have been killed had he not tilted his head slightly to read a list of notes.

“Many people say that it is only by luck or by God that I am still here,” he said, adding: “I should be dead. I shouldn’t be here at all.”

Trump told news agencies that the attempt on his life had prompted him to rewrite his speech for the convention at which he will be confirmed as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate.

“We had a very tough speech and I threw it out last night. I said I can’t say these things after what I’ve been through,” he said.

Instead, he said he would focus his new speech on trying to unite the country.

“I would like to achieve unity, if you could achieve unity, if that’s possible,” Trump said. “There are a lot of good people on the other side. … But there are also people who are very divided.”

The 78-year-old former president praised Secret Service agents who responded quickly after the shooting and escorted him off the stage to safety. He said he wanted to continue speaking but was told it was not safe and he needed to go to the hospital.

“It’s a completely surreal experience and you never know what you’re going to do until something like this happens,” he said.

Rally participants Corey Comperatore50, was killed and two others, identified as 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, were seriously injured.

The shooter, 20 years old Thomas Matthew Crookswas killed by a Secret Service sniper. Investigators say his motive is still unknown.

The attack has brought federal, state and local law enforcement agencies into action even higher alert before the RNCAt the party convention, Trump is expected to announce his candidate for vice president on Monday and officially accept the nomination in a speech on Thursday evening.

President Biden also called for unity. Address from the Oval Office On Sunday evening, Mr Biden called on Americans to reject politically motivated violence.

“There is no place for this kind of violence in America, for violence of any kind, ever. Period. No exceptions. We cannot allow this violence to become the norm,” the president said. “The political rhetoric in this country has become very heated. It’s time to cool it down. We all have a responsibility to do that.”