Former President Donald Trump honored the fallen firefighter who was killed at a Pennsylvania rally last weekend with a tribute during the Republican nominee’s GOP convention speech Thursday night. Corey Comperatore, 50, was fatally shot in an assassination attempt that left two other rallygoers injured and part of the former president’s right ear blown off.
“He was a highly respected former fire chief,” Trump said. “He lost his life selflessly, acting as a human shield” to protect his family from “flying bullets.”
Trump proceeded to walk over to Comperatore’s firefighter uniform and kiss the helmet on stage.
The 45th president opened his third nomination acceptance speech Thursday by explaining his experience of an assassination attempt, which he survived by tilting his head at the last second to read a chart on immigration.
“You’ll never hear it from me a second time because it’s actually too painful to tell,” Trump said.
The former president described a routine day on the campaign trail where “the crowd was cheering wildly” and “everybody was happy.”
Trump said that after a bullet slammed his ear, he “immediately knew it was very serious, that we were under attack. … There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way, I felt very safe because I had God on my side.
“The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark and I would not be here tonight,” Trump added.
Trump also celebrated the crowd for refusing to stampede at the sound of multiple gunshots fired.
“This massive crowd of tens of thousands of people stood by and didn’t move an inch,” Trump said. “In fact, many of them bravely but automatically stood up looking for where the sniper would be … and then began pointing at him.”
Trump was instantly lionized Saturday when he rose from the stage and fist-pumped into the air with a blood-soaked face while screaming, “Fight!”
“The crowd realized I was OK and roared with pride for our country like no crowd I have ever heard before,” Trump said. “Never heard anything like it. For the rest of my life, I will be grateful for the love shown by that giant audience of patriots that stood bravely on that fateful evening in Pennsylvania.”
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will testify about the agency’s cascade of security failures before the House Oversight Committee on Monday. Cheatle reiterated her refusal to resign after a cadre of senators confronted her on Wednesday at the GOP convention.
Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, told The Federalist in a Thursday interview his committee would subpoena the Secret Service chief if she refused to appear before his panel as well.
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