Former President Donald Trump paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who lost his life in the attack on the president at a rally in Pennsylvania last Saturday. During his speech at the Republican National Convention, Trump walked to the side of the stage where Comperatore's uniform was displayed and kissed his helmet.
"The shooter took the life of one of our fellow Americans, Corey Comperatore, an incredible person, as everyone tells me. (...) He was a former fire chief, highly respected by everyone. He was accompanied by his wife Helen, an amazing woman, whom I spoke with today. She is devastated, and their two beautiful daughters. He lost his life selflessly protecting his family from the bullets," Trump recounted.
Trump thanked the Fire Department and Comperatore's family for sending his helmet and uniform to the convention. He also announced that $6.3 million has been raised for the firefighter's family and for the two men, aged 57 and 74, who were injured in the rally and are now out of danger.
"I spoke with them today and with the three families," Trump revealed, adding, "When I spoke with the family, I said: 'I will send you a lot of money, but it can't compensate.'" He then asked the attendees for a minute of silence in memory of Comperatore.
Trump Recounts Assassination Attempt
After being declared the Republican Party's presidential candidate, Trump recounted the events during the assassination attempt. He recalled that "the assassin's bullet was a quarter of an inch away from taking my life." He warned that it would be the only time he spoke about it, as "it is too painful to tell."
"Behind me and to the right was a large screen showing a graph of border crossings under my leadership. The numbers were absolutely amazing. To see the graph, I started to turn, like this, to my right, and I was ready to make another turn, which I was lucky not to have made, when I heard a loud whistle and felt something hit me very, very hard on my right ear," Trump narrated.
"I said to myself: 'Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet,' and I moved my right hand to my ear, brought it down, and my hand was covered in blood. There was absolutely blood everywhere. I immediately knew it was very serious, that we were under attack, and in one swift motion, I proceeded to get down on the ground," he added.
Trump explained why he chose to raise his fist when security agents lifted him from the ground, an image that for his supporters and the world signifies a gesture of both anger and determination.
"When I got up, surrounded by the Secret Service, the crowd was confused because they thought I was dead, and there was great, great sadness. I could see it in their faces. I wanted to let them know that I was okay. So I raised my right arm, looked at the thousands and thousands of people waiting breathlessly, and started shouting 'fight, fight, fight,'" he said.
FAQs About Trump's Tribute to Corey Comperatore
Here are some questions and answers that provide more details about the recent events involving former President Donald Trump's tribute to Corey Comperatore and the assassination attempt.
Who was Corey Comperatore?
Corey Comperatore was a former fire chief and a highly respected firefighter who lost his life protecting his family during an attack at a Trump rally.
How much money was raised for the family of Corey Comperatore?
A total of $6.3 million was raised for Corey Comperatore's family and the two men injured during the rally.
What happened during the assassination attempt on Donald Trump?
During a rally, Trump was nearly struck by a bullet that missed him by a quarter of an inch. He recounted the event as a painful experience and detailed how he reacted to the situation.