The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed on Friday that a bullet struck Donald Trump’s ear, clarifying conflicting accounts surrounding his injuries sustained when a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
In a statement, the agency confirmed, “What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle.”
This statement marks the most definitive law enforcement account of Trump’s injuries, following ambiguous remarks from FBI Director Christopher Wray earlier in the week.
Wray’s earlier comments cast doubt on whether Trump had actually been hit by a bullet, angering both Trump and his allies and fueling conspiracy theories on both sides of the political spectrum.
Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Secret Service, had previously withheld information regarding Trump’s injuries. Neither Trump’s campaign nor his doctors were available to provide clarity. Updates were provided only by Trump or his former White House physician Ronny Jackson, who, despite being a long-time practitioner for Trump, is not his primary care physician.
The FBI’s reluctance to align with Trump’s account has aggravated tensions between the former president and the agency, which he could potentially oversee again. Trump and his supporters have long claimed that federal law enforcement is weaponized against him, allegations that Wray has consistently refuted.
At a recent event in West Palm Beach, Trump derided the suggestion that he had been struck by glass or shrapnel, prompting boos from the audience. Appearing for the first time without a bandage on his ear, he showed no visible signs of bleeding or serious injury. Questions about the nature of Trump’s wound surfaced immediately after the attack, with law enforcement and campaign officials initially declining to share details.
Despite images showing a projectile near Trump’s head, he claimed on Truth Social that he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.” During a speech at the Republican National Convention, he recounted the incident while wearing a prominent gauze bandage over his right ear.
The first comprehensive medical assessment came from Jackson, who described a 2 cm wound in Trump’s ear. His statement faced scrutiny, and the FBI and Secret Service did not initially validate it. Wray’s testimony only added to the confusion, suggesting that shrapnel might have caused the injury.
On Thursday, the FBI clarified that the shooting was an “attempted assassination of former President Trump which resulted in his injury, as well as the death of a heroic father and injuries to several other victims.” They stated that their Shooting Reconstruction Team continues to analyze bullet fragments and other evidence.
Jackson condemned any suggestion that Trump’s ear was affected by anything other than a bullet as reckless. He maintained that, based on his medical expertise in treating gunshot wounds, there was no evidence of anything else impacting Trump. The FBI declined to respond to Jackson’s letters.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized the media for promoting conspiracy theories, stating that questioning the assassination attempt was shameful, given the injuries and loss of life involved. He labeled those doubting the shooting as “mentally deficient or willfully peddling falsehoods for political reasons.”
Senator Lindsey Graham urged Wray to correct his previous testimony, stressing that Trump had indeed been hit by a bullet and calling into question the credibility of the FBI. Trump also took to Truth Social to criticize Wray, reaffirming that a bullet struck his ear, not glass or shrapnel. He expressed frustration at Wray’s statements, deeming them detrimental to the FBI’s reputation.
Over the years, Jackson has faced scrutiny over his conduct and statements while serving as White House physician. Trump appointed Wray as FBI director in 2017, but their relationship deteriorated amid investigations into Trump’s actions. Near the end of his presidency, Trump considered firing Wray and lashed out after the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago to retrieve classified documents.
The FBI’s confirmation of the bullet wound provides some clarity regarding Trump’s injuries. However, the broader implications of the attack and the law enforcement response continue to resonate within political discourse.
