FBI now saying it was a bullet, or a fragment of one, that hit Trump's ear

After a push for clarification from Speaker Mike Johnson, the FBI is confident as to what caused Trump's injury

By Kelly McClure

Nights & Weekends Editor

Published July 26, 2024 10:02PM (EDT)

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a Turning Point USA Believers Summit conference at the Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida.  (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a Turning Point USA Believers Summit conference at the Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Since the attempt on his life by shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, Donald Trump has maintained that his ear was injured by a bullet discharged by Crooks' weapon, which narrowly missed killing him. And now the FBI thinks so too. 

Since the assassination attempt, up until this point, there was a great deal of back and forth as to whether a bullet indeed caused Trump's injuries, or if shrapnel had struck his ear, causing it to bleed and require the use of a bandage for quite some time. 

On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray told representatives during a Congressional committee hearing that he did not conclusively rule out the possibility that Trump was hit by a bullet, but could not be sure. But in a statement that followed days later, the FBI concluded that yes, it was a bullet.

According to The New York Times, "After Speaker Mike Johnson questioned Mr. Wray’s comments on Thursday, the FBI said in a statement that it was examining bullet fragments, and law enforcement officials said the bureau was trying to determine whether it was a bullet or a piece of one." 

“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,” the FBI said in a conclusive statement.

On Friday, The New York Times published an analysis that strongly suggested Trump was grazed by the first of the eight bullets fired by Crooks.


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