Former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on FBI Director Christopher Wray after the latter questioned the nature of the wound Trump sustained during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month. The incident has sparked a heated debate over the FBI's handling of the investigation and the broader implications for Trump's ongoing political campaign.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump criticized Wray for suggesting uncertainty about whether the wound on Trump's ear was caused by a bullet or shrapnel. "FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn't sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively 'uneventful' - Wrong!" Trump wrote, adding a dig at President Biden.
Wray made his comments during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, responding to questions from Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) about the eight bullets fired by 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks at the rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13. "With respect to former President Trump, there's some question about whether or not it's a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear," Wray said.
Trump, however, maintained that he had been struck by a bullet while standing at the podium. "There was no glass, there was no shrapnel. The hospital called it a 'bullet wound to the ear,' and that is what it was," he asserted. He also used the opportunity to criticize Wray's leadership, claiming the FBI director's remarks demonstrate his ignorance about broader security threats facing the country. "No wonder the once storied FBI has lost the confidence of America!" Trump added.
The FBI confirmed that its shooting reconstruction team is examining metal fragments and other debris from the stage area to determine what exactly struck Trump's ear. The bureau reiterated its stance that the attack was an assassination attempt. "Since the day of the attack, the FBI has been consistent and clear that the shooting was an attempted assassination of former President Trump which resulted in his injury, as well as the death of a heroic father and the injuries of several other victims," the agency said in a statement.
The attack, which resulted in the death of one attendee and injuries to three others, has been a focal point for political debate. The FBI continues to investigate the motives behind Crooks' actions, including his searches for details of the John F. Kennedy assassination and his use of a drone near the rally site just hours before the attack.
Trump's criticism of Wray has found support among some Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed skepticism over the FBI director's testimony. "We've all seen the video, we've seen the analysis, we've heard it from multiple sources in different angles that a bullet went through his ear. I'm not sure it matters that much," Johnson told NBC. He also accused Wray of lacking transparency: "There's a lot of frustration and concern about the leadership with these agencies."
Despite the controversy, Wray was commended by representatives from both parties for providing new details about the investigation into the gunman. This contrasted with the earlier testimony of then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who resigned after bipartisan criticism of her perceived lack of cooperation.
During the House Judiciary hearing, Wray shared insights into the gunman's background and the sequence of events during the shooting. He acknowledged the complexity of the investigation and the ongoing efforts to determine the exact nature of the projectile that injured Trump. When asked about the proximity of the shot that grazed Trump's ear, Wray said, "My understanding is that either it or some shrapnel is what, you know, grazed his ear."
