Former U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that his wife, Melania Trump, remains deeply shaken after the July assassination attempt that nearly claimed his life. During a recent interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump described how Melania witnessed the terrifying moment live on television — and has struggled to speak about it since. “She was watching live,” Trump said. “She can’t really even talk about it, which is OK. That means she likes me. She loves me.” He added that when he fell after being shot, Melania immediately feared the worst. “When I went down, she thought the…
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that his wife, Melania Trump, remains deeply shaken after the July assassination attempt that nearly claimed his life. During a recent interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump described how Melania witnessed the terrifying moment live on television — and has struggled to speak about it since.
“She was watching live,” Trump said. “She can’t really even talk about it, which is OK. That means she likes me. She loves me.” He added that when he fell after being shot, Melania immediately feared the worst. “When I went down, she thought the worst had happened — because I went down and grabbed my ear, and my hand was full of blood.”
The attack occurred at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a nearby rooftop. Trump was struck in the upper ear, a glancing hit that left him bloodied but alive. A rally attendee was killed, and two others were injured. Secret Service snipers returned fire, killing Crooks on the spot.
In the chaotic aftermath, the Secret Service came under intense bipartisan criticism. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle questioned how the shooter was able to gain access to an unsecured rooftop overlooking the event — and why local police were not better integrated into the security plan. Trump himself was blunt about the agency’s failures.
“There should have been communication with the local police, which there wasn’t,” he said. “They were seeing this guy — he was a very disturbed person — hanging around. That should have set off alarms.”
The attack, which took place as Trump was addressing a large outdoor crowd, was the first attempted assassination of a major U.S. presidential candidate in decades. It reignited debates about political violence, security lapses, and the risks faced by high-profile figures during public appearances.
Despite the trauma, Trump insists he will continue holding outdoor rallies, rejecting the Secret Service’s advice to move events indoors for safety reasons. “Yeah, I’m going to do rallies outside,” he told Ingraham. “I think it’s important symbolically. You can’t let fear control you.”
He also confirmed plans to return to Butler — the very site of the shooting — for another rally, a move intended to project resilience and defiance. “The people there were incredible,” he said. “I want to go back and show them that we’re not backing down.”
Melania Trump, by contrast, has stayed largely out of the spotlight since the shooting. Sources close to the family say she has remained private and protective, focusing on their son Barron and on Trump’s recovery. The former first lady, known for her stoic public demeanor, has rarely spoken about personal matters, and Trump’s comments mark one of the few glimpses into how the incident affected her personally.
“She saw it happen in real time,” a family acquaintance told reporters. “Imagine watching your husband get shot on live television. It’s not something you just move past.”
The incident prompted widespread outrage and concern, with many calling for accountability within the Secret Service. Kimberly Cheatle, who was serving as the agency’s director at the time, resigned after a tense congressional hearing in which she faced sharp criticism over multiple communication and planning failures. Cheatle’s testimony failed to reassure lawmakers that the Secret Service had learned from the tragedy, leading to bipartisan calls for her resignation.
Her replacement, acting Director Ronald Rowe, has vowed to overhaul the agency’s coordination and threat-assessment protocols. In a statement, Rowe said the agency is “undertaking a full, transparent review of the events leading up to the attack” and is working closely with Congress to implement new measures.
Meanwhile, the FBI continues to investigate the shooter’s motives. According to the Associated Press, newly released details show that Crooks had searched online for information about mass shootings, power plants, improvised explosive devices, and even the May 2024 assassination attempt against the Slovakian prime minister. Investigators have yet to establish whether Crooks was politically motivated or acting out of personal instability.
Trump has expressed gratitude toward the supporters and first responders who reacted quickly during the attack. “The people in that crowd — they were unbelievable,” he said. “Even when shots were fired, they were waving flags, chanting ‘USA.’ It was something I’ll never forget.”
The attempt on Trump’s life has further polarized an already tense political climate. Supporters have hailed his survival as a “miracle” and a testament to his resilience, while critics have called for greater scrutiny of violent rhetoric and extremist groups online. For Trump, however, the focus remains on moving forward — and keeping his campaign on track.
“I’ve been through a lot in my life,” he said. “But when something like this happens, it puts everything in perspective. You realize what really matters — your family, your country, and the people who stand with you.”
For Melania, that perspective seems to have translated into quiet resolve rather than public appearances. Friends say she continues to encourage Trump privately but avoids discussing the shooting in detail. “She’s very protective of him, but she’s also deeply affected,” one source said. “She’s not one to show emotion in front of cameras, but this shook her to her core.”
As Trump prepares for upcoming rallies and the next stage of his campaign, the couple’s ordeal has added a deeply personal dimension to an already historic election cycle. Trump’s decision to continue public appearances — despite direct threats to his life — underscores both his defiance and the risks that come with his political stature.
“This was meant to scare us,” he said. “It didn’t work.”
The image of Trump raising his fist, blood streaking down his face moments after the shot, has already become an iconic snapshot in American political history — a symbol of both vulnerability and defiance. For Melania, though, that image represents something far more personal: the near loss of her husband, broadcast live to the world.
“She’ll probably never forget that moment,” Trump said quietly. “And honestly, neither will I.”
