Donald Trump has appeared without a bandage on his ear for the first time since he was shot in an assassination attempt – as his doctor released an update on his recovery and responded to doubts he was hit by a bullet.
The shocking new images show that the 45th president’s right ear seems to have made a remarkably quick recovery in less than two weeks since a gunman opened fire on him.
Would-be assassin Thomas Crooks, 20, fired eight rounds from his AR-15 at the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, including one that ripped through the president’s ear.
Blood covered his face as he was frantically pulled off the stage by Secret Service in what was a huge security failure by the agency meant to protect him.
The snaps were taken as the former president welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida for a meeting.
The pair discussed the war in Gaza, less than 24 hours Netanyahu held talks with Kamala Harris at the White House and was ‘irked’ by her comments on a ceasefire deal.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. it is the first time Trump’s damaged ear has been seen publicly
During the meeting at Mar-a-Lago meeting Netanyahu and Trump spoke about the former president’s Middle East peace deal, the Abraham Accords, Iran’s nuclear program and combatting anti-Semitism in the U.S.
The ear reveal comes the same day that Trump’s doctor, Dr. Ronny Jackson, gave a critical update on the president’s recovery.
Dr. Ronny Jackson, who is also a Republican Congressman from Texas, released a letter on Friday saying there was ‘absolutely no evidence’ he was hit by ‘anything other than a bullet.’
‘I want to reassure the American people and the rest of the world, that President Trump is doing extremely well,’ Trump’s former White House chief doctor added.
Jackson’s reassurance that the 45th president was hit by a slug rather than glass or shrapnel is a direct rebuke against FBI Director Christopher Wray’s suggestion earlier this week that the agency is still determining what bloodied Trump’s right ear.
Wray sparked a firestorm on Wednesday when he testified to lawmakers on Capitol Hill that there are still ‘some question’ about whether the former president was struck with a bullet or shrapnel.
‘It is clear to everyone that President Trump survived an assassination attempt by millimeters, as the attempted assassin’s bullet ripped the upper part of his ear,’ Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote to Wray in a letter sent Friday.
‘This was made clear in briefings my office received and should not be a point of contention. Therefore, I urge you to immediately correct your statement and acknowledge that President Trump was hit by a bullet rather than glass or shrapnel,’ the Republican prompted the bureau boss.
‘As head of the FBI, you should not be creating confusion about such matters, as it further undercuts the agency’s credibility with millions of Americans. Please correct this statement immediately.’
Now the FBI wants to question Donald Trump about his near-death experience when he survived an assassination attempt earlier this month.
It is a remarkable turnaround for Trump, who was shot in the ear at the rally less than two weeks ago
Trump’s ear appeared to be normal after the bandages were removed
The top of the former president’s ear was hidden behind his hair
It has yet to receive a victim statement from the former president as it collects evidence to investigate the horrifying event, one official said in a subsequent statement sought to clarify the Wray remark.
Jackson, who has been monitoring Trump’s condition, added: ‘I have continued to monitor his health and well-being, along with his primary care physician, since the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13th.
‘The would-be assassin fired multiple rounds from a relatively close distance using a high-powered rifle, with one bullet striking the former President, and now the Republican Nominee for President, in his right ear.’
And Trump, who’s ear was pictured for the first time without a bandage on Friday, has totally refuted the FBI’s questioning of his wound, saying he was struck by ‘a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard.’
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
The meeting between the leaders took place at Trump’s Florida home
The pair discussed the war in Gaza , less than 24 hours Netanyahu held talks with Kamala Harris at the White House and was ‘irked’ by her comments on a ceasefire deal
A former White House doctor has said Donald Trump is ‘rapidly’ recovering from his assassination attempt and has responded to the FBI investigation questioning if he was hit by a bullet or shrapnel
Trump posted on his Truth Social: ‘There was no glass, there was no shrapnel. 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!’
The former president’s campaign also railed against the notion that Trump was struck by shrapnel as opposed to a slug.
‘Anyone who believes this conspiracy bulls**t is either mentally deficient or willfully peddling falsehoods for political reasons,’ Trump campaign adviser Steven Cheung told CNN.
During the hearing Wednesday with Wray, the director responded to questions about the ‘assassin’s bullet’ saying, ‘My understanding is that either it or some shrapnel is what, you know, grazed his ear.’
Wray also testified that whatever it was that hit Trump came extremely close to killing the 45th president.
Days after the shooting, Trump walked out to crowds at the Republican National Convention wearing a large white bandage on his wounded ear.
Trump accepts the nomination for President at the Fiserv Forum during the Republican National Convention
A large white bandage covered the former president’s right ear the entire RNC
A combination image shows Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump with a bandaged ear after he was injured in an assassination attempt, and supporters and attendees wearing bandages over their ears in tribute to Trump during the Republican National Convention
The pillow-looking bandage soon caught on among attendees at the convention.
After the first day, many wore their own versions of the presidential dressing.
Trump was shot in the ear just 13 days ago.
