"Bullet grazed but unharmed"... Trump faces controversy over exaggerating shooting injury

Local Gossip Media Mock "Can't Find Any Scars"

Donald Trump, the former U.S. president and Republican presidential candidate, faced allegations that the gunshot injury he sustained during an outdoor campaign event was exaggerated. This suspicion arose after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is investigating the incident, suggested that what grazed Trump's ear might have been a fragment rather than a bullet.

Former President Trump after removing the gauze
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

Trump was shot during a campaign event in Pennsylvania on the 13th. He later posted on social media that he was hit by a bullet that pierced the upper part of his right ear. Ronny L. Jackson, a Republican congressman from Texas and former White House physician, also posted a memo stating that Trump had a 2cm-wide wound described as a bullet track.

However, the Secret Service, responsible for event security, declined to comment on the matter. Additionally, neither Trump's presidential campaign nor his current personal physician released official medical records. The controversy intensified when FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress on the 24th, stating that it remains unclear whether Trump was hit by a bullet or a fragment.

Photo by AP Yonhap News

Trump immediately pushed back. On Truth Social, he wrote, "Unfortunately, my ear was hit by a bullet, and it was a hard hit. The hospital said I sustained a gunshot wound to the ear," adding, "It is not surprising that the FBI, once renowned, has lost the trust of America." Steve Cheung, a Trump advisor, told CNN, "Anyone who believes this conspiracy theory is either mentally deficient or deliberately spreading falsehoods for political reasons."

However, doubts grew when photos of Trump without bandages after the incident were released. The American entertainment gossip outlet TMZ commented, "There is no visible wound in the photo showing his right ear. Whether he was actually hit by a bullet remains somewhat of a mystery." They also mocked, "It could be a record-breaking quick recovery."

Supporters Strengthen Solidarity After Shooting... Approval Ratings Rise

A Trump supporter with an American flag gauze attached. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Immediately after the shooting, despite bleeding from his ear and cheek, Trump clenched his fist and shouted "Fight," demonstrating resilience and strength. Following this, Republican supporters showed solidarity by wearing gauze on their ears, making ear patches a trend. Subsequent presidential polls showed Trump leading President Joe Biden by a larger margin.