Former President Trump reflected on the now-famous photo of him raising his fist after an assassination attempt in an interview published on Monday, joking that “you usually have to die” to become iconic.
“A lot of people say it’s the most iconic photo they’ve ever seen,” Trump told the New York Post. “They were right, I didn’t die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic photo.”
Trump was shot in the ear during an assassination attempt on Saturday at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“I was just trying to keep talking and I got shot,” the former president said.
An assassination attempt on Trump at a Pennsylvania rally left 2 injured and 2 dead, including the gunman
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents after he was shot on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
After the shooting, Trump’s photo was reposted on social media and made front pages across the country and around the world on Sunday. After shooting the president, Secret Service agents surrounded him and the former president was seen shaking his fist in the air and telling the crowd to “fight.”
Trump told the Washington Post that he “shouldn’t be here” for interviews after the assassination. Experts say Trump was extremely lucky to survive, as just a few centimeters and a coincidental turn of the head could mean the difference between life and death.
The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents after opening fire.
One of the attendees at the rally, Corey Comperatore, 50, a former Buffalo Township fire chief, died and two others were seriously injured. The incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt and an act of domestic terrorism, and the shooter’s exact motive remains unclear.
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On July 13, 2024, Republican presidential candidate and former President Trump was ousted from the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Anna Chanmemaker/Getty Images)
Trump also told the New York Post that he appreciated the “good” and “very good” phone calls he received from President Biden following the incident, noting (but not specifying) their rivalry. The future may be more civilized.
He also praised rallygoers for remaining calm throughout the incident.
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“Whether it’s luck or God, a lot of people say God allowed me to be here,” the president said.
Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.
