Latest news with #CoreyComperatore
Fox News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Widow, daughter of man killed at Trump Butler rally tell all in new Fox Nation show
The assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally last July claimed the life of one attendee — and altered the lives of his family forever. The second part of "Butler: Under Fire," titled "The Search for Justice," is now streaming on Fox Nation amid the one-year anniversary of the shocking day that nearly claimed Trump's life. Helen Comperatore's husband, Corey, was killed by gunfire from 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, and she spoke out alongside her daughter, Allyson, about the unimaginable tragedy during the special. "It's been extremely difficult," she said. "Sometimes I still feel like it's the day after, and sometimes I feel like it's been a year — it depends on the day." Helen revealed her challenges of navigating life without her late husband, who was a volunteer firefighter and devout Christian. "Sometimes I pretend he went to work, and then he'll be home in the evening just to get by the day, but he doesn't come home." "I have pictures of him everywhere at home, in every room," she continued. "I carry his driver's license in my wallet. I wear his clothes." Allyson shared her traumatic experience of having to tend to her father after he was hit by the gunfire at the Butler rally. She recalls being in shock after he crumpled to the ground as bullets rang out. "I felt him on me," she said during the somber interview on "Butler: Under Fire." "I was confused for a minute, because I was like, 'why does he feel so heavy?' When I looked back, I saw him just laying on top of me, limp." "I saw what had happened to him. I screamed. And I felt like nobody could hear me. I went to go put my hands on him to stop the bleeding. Everything else was just moving in slow motion." New cellphone footage from Corey's phone was also shown in part two of the special, documenting his recapturing of the rally up to when he was fatally struck. Screams can be heard from the footage as the phone laid still and Corey fell to the ground. "Just hearing your kid scream like that — it's torture," Helen added. Also in the episode, the Butler County Emergency Services Unit (ESU) met with Helen to answer her questions about that fateful day. "They deserve to have the truth told," Butler County ESU Commander Ed Lenz said. "They gave us permission to do this. We have their blessing to be here, and they wanted to do this. That really is the deciding factor." Helen wanted to meet with local law enforcement to receive more information about that somber day. Upon meeting the unit, she received hugs from many. "For the team as a whole, getting to meet her and her showing support for the team means the world to all of us," ESU member Michael Murcko said. Lenz remarked on the "ultimate failure" that the Butler rally site wasn't entirely secure, and that Trump was even able to hold the event despite law enforcement's monitoring of Crooks. "What really gets me is that there was a threat and they [Secret Service] let him [Trump] come out on stage," she said. "If they had just held him, none of this would have ever happened." In Fox Nation's "Art of the Surge: The Donald Trump Comeback," new, previously unreleased drone footage captures the scene of the Butler rally, as well as close-up footage of Secret Service agents protecting Trump after shots rang out. Also shown are shocking videos of the crowd's reaction as everything unfolded, highlighting the fear of those who were in attendance that day. In the series, Trump himself reflects on the immense danger he was in at the rally. "130 yards is like sinking a one-foot putt," the president said, referring to the distance from which the shots traveled toward him. "It's considered really close." Fox Nation subscribers can enjoy a wealth of other Trump-related content in addition to "Butler Under Fire" and "The Art of the Surge." Several streaming specials highlight Trump's initiatives before or during his second term, including "President Trump: Middle East Trip," "President Trump's Cabinet: Sworn In" and "Trump Border Crackdown." Fox Nation programs are viewable on-demand and from your mobile device app, but only for Fox Nation subscribers. Go to Fox Nation to start a free trial and watch the extensive library from your favorite Fox Nation personalities.
Fox News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Corey Comperatore's widow sheds new light on final moments with her husband
The widow of slain former fire chief Corey Comperatore — who died tragically at President Donald Trump's July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania — is shedding new light on her last moments with her husband that fateful day. "He was insanely excited. I was sleeping in, and he comes crawling on top of the bed like a little kid. He's like, 'Honey, we got to get up. We got to get there,'" Helen Comperatore said in the book, "Butler: The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for America's Heartland," written by Washington Examiner reporter Salena Zito. An excerpt from the book was published in the Washington Post on Sunday. "When he got that look, well, he was hard to resist," Helen said. Helen said her husband woke up for the rally just after 6 a.m. by jumping on the bed and was anxious about arriving late to the venue. "Oh, not Corey, he wasn't tired at all — he was ready to go, he was already showered and fully dressed and ready to attend our first Trump rally," Helen told Zito. Zito's book is based off of seven phone conversations she had with Trump the day following his near-death at the hands of an assassin in Butler, along with interviews with Helen and others. At the rally, lone gunman Thomas Crooks, 20, opened fire on Trump, killing Corey and wounding two others in the crowd. The 50-year-old father of two died while using his body to shield his wife and daughter from the gunfire raining down on the crowd. Crooks' bullet grazed Trump's ear the moment after the now-President turned his head. Trump attributed his survival, in which a sniper had come within a fraction of an inch of taking his life, to divine providence. "Why did I look away, Salena?... Divine intervention?... The hand of God… It was the hand of God," Trump told Zito. "I've had people that were not religious become religious over that moment because they said it was a miracle," he said. Trump returned to Butler in Oct. 2024 to pay tribute to the fallen fire chief. His boots and jacket were displayed onstage and "Ave Maria" was played. "I just want to do right by Corey… It's hard, it's tough," Trump told Zito. Helen, who last saw Trump at his March address before a joint session of Congress, said she was touched by Trump's tribute to her fallen husband, and said that the president had treated them as if they were his own family. "The president did the most meaningful thing in that moment. I thought it was beautiful," she said. "I just felt really comfortable with him. Just gave us a hug. And just like we were as family, he just really embraced us like we were a family. I mean, for a minute there, you forget you're talking to the President of the United States," she said. Helen said she finds the strength to go on from her husband's memory and from the president's immediate reaction to getting shot, in which he rallied the crowd to "fight, fight, fight." "He wants me to fight, to be strong, like the president said, 'fight, fight, fight,' we all need to be strong."
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
I was inches from death as Trump rally gunman shot at president – moment I shielded my pregnant wife fearing the worst
A LOCAL mayor sitting on the front row of the rally where Donald Trump was almost assassinated has recalled the horror that unfolded a year on from shocking event. Lone wolf gunman Thomas Crooks, 20, unleashed a volley of shots at Trump, a presidential candidate at the time, in an attack that pierced the top of his ear and left him with blood smeared on his cheek. 8 8 Trump ducked as he was being shot at the Butler Fairgrounds in the Pennsylvanian industrial town, prompting his security team to jump to protect him. Trump rose to his feet in an act of defiance, raised his fist, and urged his supporters to fight in what proved to be an iconic moment of not just the 2024 presidential campaign but in US history. However Corey Comperatore, a firefighter, died while trying to protect his family at the rally. The attempted assassination was the start of a week which culminated in Trump's rival at the time, Joe Biden, abandoning his re-election campaign. But the events sparked the biggest security crisis the US had faced since the shooting of Ronald Reagan in 1981. JonDavid 'JD' Longo, the mayor of Slippery Rock, gave a speech at the rally before Trump took to the stage. He spoke warmly about a conversation he had with Trump 30 minutes before the shooting unfolded. Longo and Trump spoke about the ground campaign in Pennsylvania - one of the key swing states that the 45th president was trying to claw back having lost it in 2020. Longo then went to join his pregnant wife, Nicolina, and his mother-in-law in the rally's front row. Yet minutes later he was ordering them to duck for cover when shots rang out. Iran claims it could assassinate Trump 'while he sunbathes at Mar-a-Lago' amid alert over terrorist sleeper cells in US 'If one of us were tall enough or stood up, there's a good chance we might've fallen victim to this lunatic,' he told The U.S. Sun. 'All I could do was to lay on top of her and yell to those to get down. 'I feared for my pregnant wife, my-mother-law and my friends. 'I found out my wife was pregnant with our first child days before the rally. "She was 9 to 10 weeks pregnant at the time. The idea of pregnancy was very fragile.' Longo, who has formerly served in the Marine Corps and Afghanistan, said the temperatures on July 13 last year were close to 100F, describing the weather as 'brutally hot.' He revealed how some of those in attendance didn't duck for cover when being ordered to. 'Many people had their cell phones up recording the president,' he said 8 Longo recalled how many of those in attendance were in disbelief when he instructed them to take cover. 'Many decided to go from standing to sitting but still looking at Trump, refusing to go onto the deck to make themselves a smaller target, as would be the expected response to a violent act like that,' he said. Crooks fired eight rounds and Longo admitted he didn't think the noise was gunshots. He recalled how his brain struggled to compute that it could be a firearm. Sue Tidwell, who lives in northwest Idaho, was in Pennsylvania for three weeks at the time of the rally. It was the first time she had gone to such an event. She said supporters had waited for several hours trying to get into the Butler fairgrounds. "We were in there like sardines - just jammed in there," she said. "It was so hot - people were passing out left and right." Donald Trump Rally Shooting Timeline Donald Trump was shot at during his Pennsylvania rally on July 13. 1 pm: Doors open at the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump was expected to speak at 5 pm. 4:11 pm: Sean Parnell gave the opening speech. 4:35 pm: David McCormick rallied the crowd. 5:10 pm: Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, later identified as the shooter, was first identified as a person of interest. 5:30 pm: Crooks was spotted with a rangefinder. 5:30 pm: Crowds were still waiting for Trump. 5:52 pm: Crooks was spotted on the roof by Secret Service. 6:02 pm: Trump takes the stage. 6:09 pm: Two sniper teams posted on buildings to the north and south behind the rally stage repositioned and were locked on Crooks. 6:12 pm: Gunshots were fired toward the stage as Trump delivered remarks. 6:12 pm: Secret Service returns fire, confirming the shooter is dead. 6:12 pm: Trump was ushered off stage by Secret Service agents. 6:42 pm: Secret Service confirmed Trump is safe. 7:24 pm: The shooter and one rally attendee are confirmed dead by law enforcement officials. 8:42 pm: Trump confirms he was shot in the ear, sharing a statement on Truth Social. 8:49 pm: The Secret Service confirms the shooter and a rally attendee are dead. Two others remain critically injured. Tidwell had waited in line for between two and three hours before getting into the fairgrounds. She and her friend then faced another three hour wait before the main event - Trump. Like Longo, she didn't initially realize it was the sound of gunshots when she heard the popping noise. 'At first, you just think it's fireworks. You just think your mind doesn't comprehend it,' she said. 'We just kind of heard the shots and we went to the ground. 'It was instantaneous. When you heard the shots, suddenly we were laying on the ground.' She admitted she couldn't see what had happened to Trump. Trump was referring to a chart and was criticizing Biden's immigration policies before Crooks started firing. Crooks was armed with an assault rifle and crawled into position before unleashing a volley of shots. Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks? Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, tried to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Who is Thomas Matthew Crooks? Thomas Matthew Crooks left few clues about his identity, and investigators said he did not have a social media presence. What is known is Crooks was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, a small suburb about 30 minutes south of Pittsburgh. He lived with his parents, Mary Elizabeth Crooks and Matthew Brian Crooks. The Crooks have been licensed professional counselors since 2002, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State Licensing System Verification service. Thomas Matthew Crooks attended and graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. In May 2024, Crooks graduated from the Community College of Allegheny County with an associate degree in engineering science, the school revealed. Crooks was previously employed as a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was a registered Republican but made a small $15 donation to a progressive political group in January 2021. Crooks did not have a criminal history in Pennsylvania. How did Thomas Crooks obtain the rifle used in the shooting? Federal investigators believe the AR-15-style rifle Thomas Crooks used in the shooting on July 13 was legally purchased and registered to his father. Matthew Brian Crooks purchased the weapon at least six months before the Trump rally shooting, according to The Associated Press. It's unknown how the younger Crooks took possession of the firearm. The Crooks family is cooperating with federal investigators. Thomas Crooks also had a membership at the local shooting club, the Clairton Sportsmen's Club, for at least a year, according to BBC. What were Thomas Matthew Crooks' final moments? On July 12, federal investigators learned Thomas Crooks visited the Clairton Sportsmen's Club. On July 13, the day of the Trump rally in Butler, Crooks went to a Home Depot and purchased a five-foot ladder that investigators believe he used to scale a rooftop about 430 feet outside the Secret Service's perimeter. That same day, investigators said Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition at a gun store and drove his Hyundai Sonata an hour north to Butler. Crooks fired at least eight shots at Donald Trump and rally-goers at 6:11 pm, less than 10 minutes after the presidential candidate took the stage. A Secret Service counter-sniper positioned near the stage where Trump was delivering his remarks returned fire within seconds, killing Crooks. What was his motive behind the shooting? The FBI is still working on determining a motive behind the shooting. The federal agency is viewing the act as domestic terrorism. Crooks is believed to have acted alone. Federal officials have been able to gain access to Crooks' cell phone, but it has yielded no clues about a motive, according to the New York Post. Crooks' cell phone and laptop have been sent to the FBI's lab in Quantico, Virginia, for further analysis. 8 8 8 Kevin Rojek, an FBI special agent, said Crooks was 'hyper-focused' on carrying out the shooting, labeling his plot as a 'sustained and detailed effort.' Trump tried to clamber to his feet in a bid to reassure his supporters, while his security personnel tried to shield him. The top of his ear had been pierced with blood smeared on his cheek, but Trump told his supporters to fight. Crooks was shot by a counter sniper but the Secret Service's competency was immediately called into question as many demanded to know how he was able to get in a position to fire at Trump. Comperatore's sister, Kelly Comperatore Meeder, is leading the calls for the agency to be held accountable. 'They have my brother's blood on their hands and they are able to return to work and go back to living their lives,' she told CBS News. 'Our family is furious.' The agency has seen major changes over the past year, with boss Kimberly Cheatle stepping down 10 days after the assassination attempt. Six Secret Service agents have also since been suspended over what unfolded in Butler. Officials for the agency revealed the suspensions ranged from 10 to 42 days, but most details have been kept under wraps. Myosoty Perez was one of the agents suspended, her lawyer told The New York Post. Matt Quinn, the Secret Service's deputy director, has revealed how Butler was an 'operational failure.' 'Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler.' Butler was the first assassination attempt against Trump. Weeks later, Trump was the target of a second plot at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. 10 Days that Changed America AN attempted assassination of a former US president, the standing down of a current president, and a political speech by a former wrestler. Senior News reporter Anthony Blair looks back on a crazy 10 days in American politics. Saturday, July 13 - Donald Trump is shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Republican frontrunner is hit in the ear but stands up and pumps his fist to the crowd. Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, is shot dead but the Secret Service is slammed for suspected security blunders. Ex-fire chief Corey Comperatore is killed protecting his family. Sunday, July 14 - President Joe Biden calls on Americans to unite and "cool down" political rhetoric in the wake of Trump's shooting. The Democrat had faced growing calls since his disastrous performance in June's CNN debate. Shocking video reveals how close Trump came to being killed after turning his head at the last minute. Monday, July 15 - The Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Trump is formally nominated as the Republican candidate. An emotional-looking Trump makes his first appearance since surviving the shooting wearing a large ear bandage. It quickly becomes a must-have fashion item at the RNC. Ohio Senator JD Vance is named as Trump's running mate. Previously anti-Trump, Vance at just 39 is an inexperienced choice, but seen as having a connection with ordinary Americans. In an interview, Biden admits it was a "mistake" to talk about putting Trump in "the bullseye" days before the assassination attempt. Tuesday, July 16 - The FBI warns of more potential violence in the wake of Trump's shooting. Intelligence claims Iran had a separate plot to assassinate Trump, but there is no proven link to Crooks. Biden returns to the campaign trail for the first time since the assassination attempt and insists he isn't stepping down. Wednesday, July 17 - Joe Biden tests positive for Covid, just days after saying he would drop out of the presidential race if he was diagnosed with a medical condition. It intensifies the calls for him to step aside with Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom floated as potential replacements. At the RNC, JD Vance makes his first speech since being selected as Trump's VP pick, to the delight of the MAGA crowd. Thursday, July 18 - Donald Trump addresses the RNC, his first speech since surviving an attempted assassination. He appears slower and more subdued than usual but gives the longest convention acceptance speech in US history. Just before he goes on, former wrestler Hulk Hogan rips his shirt off and tells cheering crowds "Trumpomania" will sweep America. Former First Lady Melania, who has barely been seen on the campaign trail, makes an appearance but does not speak. Barack Obama joins calls for Biden to step aside. Friday, July 19 - President Biden appears to consider resigning, as a source says he is in a "contemplative stage" while isolating with Covid. Video emerges showing Biden appearing to lean into the wrong woman after mistaking her for his wife Jill. Meanwhile, the world's biggest tech outage sparks travel chaos for Republicans leaving the RNC in Milwaukee. Saturday, July 20 - Donald Trump holds his first campaign rally since the shooting in Butler. He appears in Michigan without his ear bandage. His former doctor Ronny Jackson describes his injuries. He appears in his first interview alongside his running mate Vance. Senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi speaks for the first time since being linked to growing calls for Biden to resign. Meanwhile, Biden's reelection campaign continues to insist he is running, as a spokesperson slams Trump's rally remarks as showing he is "focused only on himself." Sunday, July 21 - Joe Biden announces he isn't running in November in a shock letter, just hours after insisting he was staying in the race. He is the first incumbent to step down in their first term since 1968. Biden endorses Kamala Harris for president as senior Dems through their support behind the Vice President. The news appears to throw the Republicans off their stride. Biden vows to continue his term until November's election. Monday, July 22 - Kamala Harris raises a record $81 million in 24 hours as she secures the Democratic candidacy. She also inherits some $91 million in leftover campaign funds from Biden. Harris gives her first speech since Biden stepped out, and speaks to the president on the phone, although he doesn't appear in person. Under-pressure Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle appears on Capitol Hill and faces increasing calls to resign over the shooting of Trump. She admits the Secret Service "failed" on July 13 and resigns the following day.
14 hours ago
- Politics
A year after Trump rally shooting: Remembering a fallen hero and reckoning with a security breakdown
One year ago, the attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, marked a pivotal and deeply troubling moment for the nation—and especially for the U.S. Secret Service, the agency charged with protecting America's top leaders. The attack, which occurred at a campaign rally, claimed the life of fire chief Corey Comperatore, who was shielding his family during the gunfire. His death underscored the tragedy of what many now describe as a catastrophic security lapse. For an agency with what has been described as a "zero-fail mission," the events of July 13, 2024, raised urgent questions about systemic failures. In the days and months that followed, at least five separate investigations were launched, including internal reviews by the Secret Service, FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as probes by both chambers of Congress. The findings highlighted a range of failures, from lapses in intelligence sharing to gaps in event coordination and local enforcement communication. One year later, the Secret Service released a public update outlining 37 reform measures in response to those findings. These recommendations were echoed in reports from the House Task Force and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. However, what remains unanswered is a more fundamental question: How did a globally renowned protective agency allow such a breakdown to happen? A long road from 9/11 to Butler To understand the present, many experts point to the past- -- specifically the post-9/11 restructuring of America's homeland security apparatus. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, were the result of detailed planning by al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, who had long viewed the U.S. presidency as a primary target, according to an ABC News analysis. The federal government responded with sweeping reforms, including creating the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. Agencies, including the Secret Service—formerly under the Treasury Department—were absorbed into DHS. The change significantly expanded the Secret Service's responsibilities. Not only did the agency's protective mission double, but it also took on an enhanced investigative role under the Patriot Act. Yet, unlike other federal agencies that received substantial boosts in budget and staffing, the Secret Service's resources grew only modestly. For example, in 2001, the FBI operated with a $3.3 billion budget and around 25,000 personnel. By 2025, the agency reported it requested $11.3 billion and employs over 37,000 staff. In contrast, the Secret Service's budget rose from $859 million in 2001 to just over $3 billion today, with a workforce of about 8,000, according to a Homeland Security report. Despite its expanded mission, the agency faced persistent recruitment and retention challenges similar to police staffing shortages seen throughout the U.S, according to the non-profit International Association of Chiefs of Police. "Contributing factors include staffing challenges, high turnover and public criticism stemming from the pandemic, reported misconduct incidents and the 'defund the police' movement," the IACP said. Reforms delayed, warnings ignored The Secret Service's structural issues were not unknown. A series of high-profile incidents—including White House perimeter breaches and security threats during the 2016 campaign —prompted calls by legislators for reform. In 2015, a House Oversight Committee report titled "The Secret Service: An Agency in Crisis" laid out key recommendations, including expanded training, staffing increases, technology integration, and a more unified federal protective strategy. The agency embraced those recommendations, but implementation was uneven and often hamstrung by lack of congressional funding. A 2016 report by the National Academy of Public Administration further emphasized that the Secret Service was still in "early stages of transformation" and warned that "budget and staffing constraints inevitably lead to trade-offs." According to recent congressional data, the number of personnel assigned to protective missions has decreased—dropping from 4,027 in FY2014 to 3,671 today. What's changing now and what isn't In the wake of the Butler shooting, Secret Service director Sean Curran unveiled a strategic overhaul built on five pillars: Operations, Human Capital, Resources and Physical Assets, Training, and Technology. Read the Secret Service Strategic Plan The agency says its reforms include: Clearer lines of command for protective events, enhanced coordination with local law enforcement, improved intelligence sharing, recording of radio transmissions at protective events and integration of new surveillance and threat-detection technologies. Still, at least 10 of the 37 recommendations require congressional or executive action. These include reassessing whether the Secret Service should remain under DHS, increasing its budget and staffing, and narrowing the scope of individuals eligible for protection under 18 U.S. Code § 3056—a legacy of expanded protection following 9/11. Many of these issues were flagged a decade ago in the 2014 DHS Protective Mission Panel report, but substantive legislative follow-through has remained elusive. The mission must be matched with resources While mistakes were clearly made in Butler, it's also true that President Trump survived because of the extraordinary bravery of Secret Service agents, who placed themselves between the shooter and the former president. Their selflessness stands as a powerful reminder of the agency's mission and the personal risk involved in fulfilling it. But as policymakers continue to investigate and debate long-term reforms, one thing is clear: The Secret Service's "no-fail" mission must be matched with "no-fail" support—from both Congress and the White House. Until then, the events of Butler will remain a stark warning of what happens when an elite agency is allowed to operate without the resources, staffing, and clarity of mission it so clearly deserves.
The Hill
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Butler assassination attempt proved to be turning point for Trump
When a firework boomed in the distance as President Trump addressed supporters in Iowa earlier this month, the popping sound triggered something in the president's mind. 'It's only fireworks, I hope. Famous last words,' Trump quipped, a nod to when he was on stage a year ago in Pennsylvania and gunshots rang out, with a bullet grazing his ear. 'You always have to think positive,' Trump said in Iowa. 'I didn't like that sound either.' Sunday marks one year since Trump was bloodied in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. The shocking moment served as a turning point for Trump both politically and personally, and it set off a reckoning at the Secret Service that is still playing out. The Butler shooting galvanized and energized Republicans in their unflinching support of Trump for the final few months of the 2024 campaign. Logistically, it forced the Trump campaign to adapt to fresh security concerns. The near-death experience also added to Trump's already mythic persona among many of his supporters. The president and his allies have over the past year repeatedly suggested it was divine intervention that saved his life en route to a return to the White House. Supporters regularly chant 'fight, fight, fight,' echoing Trump's words as he was rushed off stage in Butler. And an image of a bloodied Trump pumping his fist, surrounded by Secret Service moments after the shooting, now hangs in the White House. 'So much that happened led us to where we are, and Butler was a big part of that. It really was,' White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who was at the rally, told Miranda Devine on the 'Pod Force One' podcast. 'And for the American public to see a person who was such a fighter as he was that day, I think as awful and tragic as it might have been, it turned out to be something that showed people his character,' Wiles added. The White House is not marking the anniversary in a significant way. Trump sat down for an interview with his daughter-in-law and Fox News host Lara Trump ahead of the anniversary and he will spend the weekend at his property in Bedminster, N.J.. On the day of the anniversary, he will attend the FIFA World Club World Cup soccer match at Met Life Stadium before returning to the White House. Administration officials appear keen to keep more of the focus on Corey Comperatore, the rally attendee who was killed at the Butler rally while shielding his family from gunfire. 'One year ago in Butler, Pennsylvania, we tragically lost an American hero, Corey Comperatore, who selflessly laid down his life to protect those around him,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. 'President Trump will never forget Corey and his beautiful family. On that dark day, God spared President Trump's life by a miraculous millimeter,' Leavitt said. 'Now one year later, President Trump is standing stronger than ever as he continues to 'fight, fight, fight' for the American people.' Trump officials who were there that day have argued it took the perfect confluence of events for the president to survive. Trump had to call for a chart showing a rise in border crossings under the Biden administration just a few minutes into the rally, something he typically would not highlight until later on in the event. The screen had to be to Trump's right, and he had to look up at the chart at just the right moment for a bullet to merely clip his ear rather than more gravely wounding him. 'That just doesn't happen because it happens. It happened because I believe God wanted him to live,' Wiles said, echoing a common refrain from many of Trump's supporters. The president has leaned into the idea of divine intervention in his own remarks about the incident over the past year. And he has also embraced the imagery around the shooting. The image of Trump raising a fist, blood streaking down his face, came to define a campaign that had positioned itself as a target of political prosecutions and unfair attacks. It also appeared on T-shirts and now hangs in the White House. The Butler rally was also a political turning point in the 2024 campaign. It cemented Trump's hold on the Republican party just before its convention. In the moments after the shooting, Tesla CEO Elon Musk endorsed Trump and went on to spend millions to get Trump elected. The assassination attempt also froze Democratic efforts to attack Trump at a time when they were already reeling from then-President Biden's poor debate performance. Biden dropped out of the race just a week later. Wiles said security concerns became 'front and center' for the remainder of the campaign. Trump had to pause outdoor rallies and had to consider whether buildings had a lot of windows before holding events, she said. The repercussions at the Secret Service over the security lapse were swift. Kimberly Cheatle resigned as director of the agency 10 days after the assassination attempt, and Congress launched a review of how the shooting unfolded. Trump has since appointed Sean Curran, the agent who was by his side at the Butler rally, to lead the Secret Service. A year later, the fallout of the security lapse is still unfolding. The Secret Service this week suspended six agents in connection with their actions during the Butler rally. 'My heart will always be with all those impacted on that day, especially Corey Comperatore, who lost his life while protecting those around him,' Curran said in a statement provided by the White House. 'Since President Trump appointed me as Director of the United States Secret Service, I have kept my experience on July 13 top of mind, and the Agency has taken many steps to ensure such an event can never be repeated in the future,' Curran added. 'Nothing is more important to the United States Secret Service than the safety and security of our protectees. As director, I am committed to ensuring our Agency is fully equipped, resourced, and aligned to carry out our important mission each and every day.'
