Comedian Bill Maher has publicly condemned the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, labeling Trump as the "luckiest motherf---er" who ever lived. Maher expressed his relief at Trump's survival and highlighted the political implications of the attack during his stand-up special in Minneapolis.
"I'm glad he's OK," Maher said, reacting to the events shortly after they unfolded. "Trump, I've got to say this, the luckiest motherf---er that has ever walked the face of the earth. And again, I'm happy he's OK. I mean, 2016, that has got to be the luckiest – he lost the popular vote by a lot, he just pulled an inside straight."
Maher, known for his critical stance on Trump, made it clear he unequivocally denounces the shooting. "I unequivocally denounce" the attack, Maher said, predicting that some of Trump's detractors might joke about the incident due to their intense dislike of the former president. "Not from me. Not from me," he added, receiving applause from his audience.
The assassination attempt occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was speaking. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania, fired three rounds from a rooftop 150 yards away. One rally attendee was killed, and two others were critically wounded before Crooks was shot dead by law enforcement. Trump was grazed by a bullet, resulting in a bloody face, but he waved defiantly to his supporters as Secret Service personnel escorted him off the stage.
Maher noted the potential impact of the attack on the upcoming 2024 election. "MAGA Nation finally has its full martyr," he said, suggesting that the image of Trump leaving the stage with a bloodied face and fist in the air could be a significant moment for his supporters.
Maher also discussed the broader political ramifications, mentioning the potential challenges facing the Democratic Party. He indicated that President Biden's struggles, including calls for him to step down and concerns about his debate performance and mental acuity, could complicate the situation. "It might not matter whom Democrats put up as their nominee now," Maher said, adding that Trump's defiant reaction to the shooting could strengthen his position.
Meanwhile, Trump, in an interview to the New York Post, said that he was "supposed to be dead" after surviving an assassination attempt, describing the ordeal as a "very surreal experience."
"I'm not supposed to be here, I'm supposed to be dead," Trump told the Post in an interview aboard his plane en route to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, where he is set to be confirmed as the party's presidential candidate.
Trump recounted the "very surreal experience" while sporting a white bandage covering his right ear. The 78-year-old former president was hit in the ear by a gunman during a campaign rally on Saturday.
"By luck or by God, many people are saying it's by God I'm still here," he said.
Trump praised the Secret Service agents for their swift action in neutralizing the shooter. "They took him out with one shot right between the eyes," he said. "They did a fantastic job. It's surreal for all of us."
(With inputs from agencies)At TOI World Desk, our dedicated team of seasoned journalists and...
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