FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony before Congress on July 24 has created a whirlwind of controversy. He expressed uncertainty regarding the nature of former President Donald Trump’s injury sustained during an assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Wray’s uncertainty lies in whether Trump’s injury was caused by a bullet or shrapnel.
The statement by Wray has added a new layer of complexity to an already intricate investigation. The incident occurred on July 13, 2024, at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During the rally, gunfire erupted from a nearby rooftop. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was quickly apprehended and killed by Secret Service agents after firing multiple shots. The incident resulted in the death of one rally attendee and injuries to two others, including Trump whose right ear was injured.
During his testimony, Wray discussed the uncertainty surrounding the nature of Trump’s injury. “There’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear,” Wray stated, adding that, although all rounds fired by Crooks have been accounted for, it remains unclear if the object that struck Trump was indeed a bullet.
Trump, however, took umbrage at the FBI Director’s comments and expressed his discontent on his Truth Social platform. He rejected the notion of any uncertainty about the object that hit him, stating, “FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!). Wrong!”
Trump insisted there was no glass or shrapnel involved in his injury, categorically stating, “The hospital called it a ‘bullet wound to the ear,’ and that is what it was.” He further recounted the incident at the Republican National Convention, saying, “I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard on my right ear. I said to myself: ‘Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet.’” Trump was seen wearing a dressing on his ear due to the injury from the attack.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed any doubts about the nature of Trump’s injury in a statement to the media. “Anyone who believes this conspiracy bs is either mentally deficient or willfully peddling falsehoods for political reasons,” Cheung stated.
On July 20, Trump made public a note from Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), a political ally and former White House physician. Jackson’s note detailed the injury as a “bullet track” resulting in a wound approximately 0.78 inches wide, extending down to the cartilaginous surface of the ear. Jackson noted that sutures were not required, but the wound necessitated dressing due to intermittent bleeding.
According to Wray, the FBI has conducted over 400 interviews related to the assassination attempt and anticipates conducting many more. This incident has further polarized opinions about the FBI and its leadership. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Wray’s testimony, stating, “Evidence shows it was a bullet that went through Trump’s ear, and Wray has a credibility problem.”
