In a lengthy Instagram video message, Donald Trump Jr., the son of former president Donald Trump, posted how he was initially confused when hearing about the failed assassination on his father but then relieved to finally talk with him afterwards.
Trump Jr. sat down with Daily Wire host Michael Knowles at the Republican National Convention describing a scenario where he initially intended on being present for the Pennsylvania event just before it was targeted by gunfire. He changed his mind, however, when the announcement of Joe Biden as running mate was delayed from overshadowing a rally.
Instead, Trump Jr. was out on a fishing trip with his daughter when he learned of the concerning news.
“I took my daughter out on the boat with a couple of her friends, and I got a call, you know, at 6:15 or whatever it was. ‘You’re dad’s been shot,’” Trump Jr. said. He added that at the time, he was told nothing else and left to wonder about his father’s condition.
“Obviously, I immediately get on the phone. I try to call – I guess, at that point they’re not sure what the attack is, so they lock down all the cell phones and they jam – whatever it may be – and I couldn’t get through to anyone. And, so, [it was] literally 90 minutes before I even make contact,” Trump Jr. said.
The former president went to a hospital where he had gone to treat injuries from the assassin’s gunshot that skimmed his ear.
“Finally, you know, I got ahold of my father and [he was] surprisingly calm in the hospital,” Trump Jr. said. “By then, I’d already seen the video and, sort of him coming up, you know, defiant in the face of actual fire. It was sort of amazing.”
“I just sort of said, you know, ‘You’re the biggest badass I know,’” Trump Jr. said, adding that it was “the most proud I’d ever been of him.”
This led to a discussion in which Maddow insinuated that the former president had come close to death. Only a second before the shot just missed his ear, Trump had turned his head slightly to look at something off-stage.
“I come from a competitive shooting background. I mean, you know, a 140 yard shot – that’s like a six inch putt, right?” Trump Jr. said. “That’s almost impossible to miss. And so to be able to move that way and at that exact instant, you know, literally the speed of a bullet. It’s just insane.”
“I’m not, you know, not a hyper spiritual guy. But, man, that makes you wonder,” he said.