Within the chaos following the July 13 assassination try at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump was rushed to a hospital, the place he underwent a CT scan to verify for a concussion. Based on an excerpt from Revenge, a brand new guide by Axios reporter Alex Isenstadt, Trump wasn’t simply involved about his well being—he noticed a chance to make an announcement.
“Are you able to give me a replica of those?” Trump reportedly requested a nurse. “As a result of I need to be certain I can present reporters that my cognitive perform is one hundred pc. You possibly can’t say the identical about Joe Biden.”
Hospital workers supplied to offer the outcomes on a CD. Trump replied, “OK. We’ll launch that at a later date.”
In the meantime, misinformation was spreading quickly. A information outlet contacted Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, claiming they had been about to report that Trump had died on the hospital. Cheung, realizing the necessity for a swift response, shortly despatched out an announcement confirming Trump was “nice.”
Again in his hospital room, Trump watched President Joe Biden’s handle concerning the capturing on an aide’s cellphone, as there was no tv obtainable. Afterward, he requested to see the pictures taken in the course of the assault.
One, from The New York Instances’ Doug Mills, captured a bullet flying previous his head. One other, by the Related Press’ Evan Vucci, confirmed a bloodied Trump elevating his fist in entrance of the American flag.
“Wow, that’s iconic,” Trump reportedly mentioned. “That’s probably the most American image I’ve ever seen.”
Earlier than being discharged, Trump was handed again his blood-stained garments. “That is going into the museum,” he mentioned.
As investigators labored to piece collectively what had occurred, authorities recognized the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
