Former President Donald Trump delivered his first public address since surviving the attempted assassination against him last weekend.
President Trump spoke at the Republican National Convention to officiate his designation as the GOP’s Presidential nominee.
The speech, besides having historical significance given the context in which it was delivered, made even more history by becoming the longest nomination acceptance speech to date.
Trump, after thanking his supporters and political allies, recounted the assassination attempt.
“As you already know, the assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life," said Trump, subsequently explaining how any slight head tilts would have cost him his life.
"In order to see the chart, I started to - like this - turn to my right, and was ready to begin a little bit further turn, which I’m very lucky I didn’t do, when I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me, really, really hard, on my right ear,” continued Trump. "I said to myself, 'Wow, what was that - it can only be a bullet.'"
Trump struck a somber yet grateful tone when concluding his narration, claiming he survived “only by the grace of almighty God.” "Many people say it was a providential moment. It probably was," concluded Trump.
Religion has played a major role in Trump’s public reaction to the attempt on his life.
Immediately after surviving the shooting, Trump described his belief that he persevered “by luck or by God.”
Conservatives have driven the same narrative, with many lawmakers declaring Trump’s remaining alive is God’s doing.
“If you don’t believe that the Hand of the Lord saved him… you are an utter fool,” stated Representative Maria Elvira-Salazar (R-FL).
Representative Cory Mills (R-FL), a former Army sniper, alleged the same.
Representative Mills claimed his military experience compels him to believe Trump being alive is the result of “divine intervention” and “God placing his protective hand” over Trump.