At a town hall gathering in Oaks, Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump recounted a dramatic event from July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a chart on immigration may have saved his life during a shooting.
According to The Independent, Trump attributed avoiding a fatal shot to looking at the chart, which he now frequently references in speeches and has since said he sleeps with the chart.
The shooting involved a 20-year-old assailant named Thomas Matthew Crooks.
During his speech on immigration, Trump said he glanced at a chart, inadvertently dodging the bullets. While he was hit in the ear, he survived this harrowing incident.
The controversial chart displayed data on border crossings from Mexico into the United States under Trump's administration and since President Joe Biden took office. Describing the chart in speeches, Trump has called it his "all-time favorite chart," going so far as to say, "I sleep with it every night."
Trump has stated that this chart, created using U.S. Border Patrol information and later modified by his staff, "probably saved my life."
First introduced to him by Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, it became a notable part of Trump's campaign rhetoric.
On his way to a campaign event this year in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he began using the altered version of the chart in discussions about immigration policies.
Despite the former president's affection for the chart, it has faced criticism. California Representative Robert Garcia highlighted issues in Congress over inaccuracies, like the misstated timing of Trump’s departure and the exclusion of the debated child separation policy.
"The use of this chart wasn't limited to local events. It also made its way into Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention earlier this year, despite objections over its details."
Senator Ron Johnson endorsed the chart, saying it starkly contrasts Trump's handling of border security with that of the Biden administration. He asserted it displayed how Trump "successfully dealt with" earlier border challenges.
For Trump, this chart has taken on new significance. "If I didn’t turn to the right, I wouldn’t be here right now," said Trump regarding the moment he evaded the bullets.
He repeatedly affirms its importance, stating, "The last time I put up that chart, I never really got to look at it. But without that chart, I would not be here today."
Though critics have pointed out its faults, Trump's continued references during various campaign stops show his unwavering belief in its value.
Trump's account of narrowly avoiding death has added emotional weight to an already fraught topic.
While he cherishes the chart for its role in his survival, it remains a point of contention in the larger immigration debate. Figures like Representative Garcia and Senator Johnson highlight the ongoing divide over immigration policies between prominent political figures.
