HomeElection News

Divine Intervention: Trump’s Survival of Assassination Attempt

Allies of former President Donald Trump attribute his survival of an assassination attempt to divine intervention, further solidifying his position in the GOP. Leaders across the world react, emphasizing the impact on American politics.

Former President Donald Trump himself praised God for saving his life, writing early Sunday morning that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.” | Evan Vucci/AP

Allies of former President Donald Trump attribute his survival of a harrowing assassination attempt during his Saturday rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, to divine intervention.

Ivanka Trump, his daughter, believed her late mother was watching over Trump. Rep. Carlos Antonio Giménez (R-Fla.) told Fox News that Trump survived by “the grace of God,” while Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) cited “divine intervention” and the “protective hand” of God. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, “GOD protected President Trump yesterday.” Trump himself praised God for saving his life, writing early Sunday morning that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”

Republican Leaders React to the Shooting

The outpouring from Trump’s allies highlights a momentous event in American politics. As Trump is set to be formally declared the Republican Party’s nominee at the GOP convention in Milwaukee this week, his supporters — many top Republican officials — have embraced divine intervention, solidifying Trump’s position as the party’s leader and potentially as a figure chosen by a higher power.

A bullet grazed Trump’s right ear, wounding him but not seriously. The suspected shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed one rallygoer and injured at least two others before being killed.

A Miraculous Survival

Republicans leaned on their faith to describe the incident as a “miracle.” Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) posted an illustration of an angel steering Trump away from the bullet. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who was shot in 2017, said on Fox & Friends Weekend, “Yesterday there were miracles, and I think the hand of God was there too. You can just see one centimeter over and we’re having a very different conversation.”

Vivek Ramaswamy, a strong Trump supporter, pointed out the bullet’s fateful position, calling it “Divine Providence.” Ramaswamy added it was “one hair’s width away from a deathblow to a nation.”

Blaming Violent Rhetoric

While Republicans attributed Trump’s survival to divine intervention, they also blamed violent rhetoric for inspiring the attack. Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.) posted on X, “God saved our Republic last night. Extreme voices have stoked the flames in America. This photo will go down in history as a moment of extreme moral clarity—Standing defiantly against extreme hate.”

The image of Trump with a raised fist and blood trickling down his face has already reinforced the former president’s view as a martyr among his supporters. House Speaker Mike Johnson drew historical parallels, recalling that God once protected George Washington from a gunfire ambush in 1755, also in Pennsylvania. “God spared Ronald Reagan for a reason. God spared Donald Trump for a reason. God doesn’t miss,” wrote Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) on X.

Global Reactions

Leaders across the world, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sent prayers for Trump. Peter Westmacott, the U.K. ambassador to Washington from 2012 to 2016, told POLITICO that Trump supporters see the former president’s survival as “a manna from heaven,” potentially changing the political landscape.

“It is very good for the victimhood, the martyrdom line that Donald Trump has been using during his campaign,” Westmacott said. “I’m sorry to have to say that — it’s a cynical observation. But that is the thought that one has after the horror you feel of, ‘Oh dear, is this another political assassination?’”

Subscribe to our newsletter

COMMENTS