Former President Trump insisted late Thursday that he was hit by a bullet at a campaign rally earlier this month, after FBI Director Christopher Wray suggested it was still an open question whether Trump was struck by a bullet or shrapnel.
Trump, in a lengthy post on Truth Social, slammed Wray for his comments on the assassination attempt against the former president, as well as the FBI director’s comments that he had not noticed cognitive decline in President Biden in their limited interactions and the prosecution of “J6 Patriots” who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“No, it was, unfortunately, a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard. There was no glass, there was no shrapnel,” Trump posted. “The hospital called it a ‘bullet wound to the ear,’ and that is what it was. No wonder the once storied FBI has lost the confidence of America!”
Wray testified Wednesday before Congress about the investigation into the assassination attempt against Trump during a Butler, Pa., campaign rally.
“I think with respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that, you know, hit his ear,” Wray told lawmakers.
In a statement, the FBI said it had been “consistent and clear” since the day of the shooting that it was an assassination attempt that resulted in his injury and the death of one rally attendee.
“This was a heinous attack and the FBI is devoting enormous resources to learn everything possible about the shooter and what led to his act of violence,” the bureau said. “The FBI’s Shooting Reconstruction Team continues to examine evidence from the scene, including bullet fragments, and the investigation remains ongoing.”
Video of the shooting showed Trump reach for his ear after pops could be heard. He ducked to the ground and was swarmed by Secret Service agents moments later. Upon getting to his feet, Trump’s ear had begun to bleed, and he had blood streaked across his face.
A New York Times video analysis published Friday determined a bullet, not debris, likely wounded Trump’s ear.
The former president has sported a bandage on his right ear in each public appearance since the incident.
Trump and his campaign have provided limited information about his treatment and recovery from the shooting, with most of the updates trickling out through family members describing it in broad terms.
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who served as White House physician during the Obama and Trump administrations, said he has examined Trump’s ear and changed the dressing on his wound. Jackson issued a letter Sunday providing additional detail on what he saw.
“The bullet passed, coming less than a quarter of an inch from entering his head, and struck the top of his right ear,” Jackson wrote. “The bullet track produced a 2 cm wide wound that extended down to the cartilaginous surface of the ear. There was initially significant bleeding, followed by marked swelling of the entire upper ear. The swelling has since resolved, and the wound is beginning to granulate and heal properly.”
Updated at 10:55 a.m.