One year ago, on July 13, 2024, a bullet narrowly missed former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania—a moment that would dramatically reshape the political landscape and deepen the mythology surrounding his political career.
As Trump pointed to a chart on illegal border crossings, a sniper’s bullet grazed his right ear. The injury, though minor, became instantly iconic. Covered in blood but defiant, Trump rose from the ground, fist raised, shouting “Fight! Fight! Fight!”—a moment now immortalized in a painting displayed prominently in the White House foyer, replacing Barack Obama’s official portrait.
Historic Echoes and Political Impact
The attempted assassination drew immediate comparisons to the 1912 shooting of Theodore Roosevelt, who survived an attack while campaigning as a third-party candidate and famously delivered a speech with a bullet lodged in his chest. Like Roosevelt, Trump used the moment not only to project resilience but also to rally public support. He later described the incident as a divine act: “It was the hand of God,” he told journalist Salena Zito.
In her book “Butler: The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for America’s Heartland” (published July 8), Zito writes that the event reignited Trump’s determination to push through major initiatives in a second term, even more aggressively than in his first.
A Turning Point in the 2024 Election
At the time of the attack, President Joe Biden’s campaign was faltering following a poor debate performance on June 27, raising concerns about his cognitive fitness. The stark contrast between Biden’s perceived weakness and Trump’s defiant recovery reshaped public opinion. Within days, Biden withdrew from the race, and endorsements for Trump surged—most notably from Elon Musk.
Trump’s appeal to male voters spiked dramatically. According to Pew Research Center, he carried men by 12 points in the 2024 election, compared to a dead-even split in 2020.
From Survivor to Symbol
The moment of survival became more than a footnote—it became a symbol. In his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, held in Milwaukee just blocks from the site of Roosevelt’s own near-fatal shooting, Trump proclaimed, “I stand before you only by the grace of almighty God.” Although he vowed never to speak of the shooting again, he referenced it multiple times on the campaign trail, further solidifying its place in his political narrative.
The Commercialization of a Moment
The incident also took on a commercial dimension. Trump’s brand capitalized on the event with a line of $299 limited-edition high-top sneakers featuring his bloodied face and, more recently, a $249 cologne named “Fight Fight Fight.”
While political violence is sadly not new in U.S. history—four presidents have been assassinated, and others like Ronald Reagan survived serious attempts—Trump’s 2024 experience stands out for its lasting political and cultural impact. More than just surviving the attack, Trump turned it into a defining moment of his return to power and a rallying cry for his supporters.
Today, as visitors pass the iconic White House painting, it serves as a reminder of a pivotal moment—one that changed the trajectory of the 2024 election and solidified Donald Trump’s image as a fighter who, in the eyes of his supporters, overcame fate itself.
