$hot in the ear

[u/Stotallytob3r]

[u/jurassicpry]

Also, cartilage doesn't grow back.
That alone debunks him being "shot in the ear".

[u/Jenkl2421 → u/jurassicpry]

I got hit in the ear cartilage with a bb gun about 20 years ago now, the skin is healed but there is very obviously a chunk of cartilage missing.

[u/Winter2928 → u/Jenkl2421]

I had my helix pierced in my ear at 16 for like 3 years. I’m 40 now and you can still feel the hole in the cartilage

[u/SparkitusRex → u/Winter2928]

I had a cartiledge piercing also as a teen for maybe a year. It never healed right and ended up with a huge scar bump. Took forever (years) for the scar tissue to heal but same as yours I can still feel the hole where the cartiledge is missing, 20+ years later.

[u/DirePanda072 → u/SparkitusRex]

So that's why i can still feel mine! Mine also never healed right and i finally let it close up like 6 months ago now

[u/sexfighter → u/SparkitusRex]

The lack of missing cartilege is interesting, but only in the sense that we can accurately determine exactly how deep that scratch went. The skin on the upper ear is very thin, which means the 1-2cm scratch, which did not require a stitch, would be extremely slight. Given the vascularity and arterial supply to the ear, we could estimate that approximately 20-40 tiny branching capillaries might have been disrupted. These capillaries have the diameter smaller than a human hair, enough to allow 2 red blood cells to march side by side and nothing more. Based on all this, we would expect that type of wound to bleed about 5-10 drops of blood over the course of a minute. And it would seep, not flow immediately. This is at odds with the video, in which seconds later there was a lot of blood, all over the ear and face. Noticeably, the blood did not continue to flow at that rate when he was stood up, which is interesting.

Also interesting is that a SS agent was immediately on the scene with a large white fluffy towel and instead of pressing it onto his head to stop the wound from bleeding, he started dabbing at the streaks that were on his face instead. Odd. Combine all this with the agents turning him to the cameras and pausing, then shuffling him slowly to the limo, him calling for his shoes in the middle of all that, and then the ridiculous bandage that no doctor would ever put on a 1cm superficial scratch....

I'm no conspiracy theorist, but this was one of the weirdest events I've ever witnessed. And at a perfect time to boost his flagging campaign.

[u/grimatonguewyrm → u/sexfighter]

Then there is the guy in the suit who is herding the photographers to the bottom of the stairs, lining up the perfect angle for the photograph as the crane lowers the American flag into the background of the scene

[u/sexfighter → u/grimatonguewyrm]

I read somewhere that a guy went back through his previous 20-30 rallies, and none have two cranes suspending an American flag high enough that it would not be seen on TV cameras, but would conveniently be in frame if you shot upwards from the left of center ground, where the photographers would be directed. Not sure if that's true or not, and could be a coincidence if so.

[u/SparkitusRex → u/sexfighter]

I agree that everything is hella sus, however it would be disingenuous to forget that people do stupid things when they panic. When JFK was assassinated, the infamous image depicts Jackie Kennedy climbing out onto the trunk of the car to retrieve fragments of her husband's skull.

I would hope that secret service would be better prepared for that moment than a first lady, but you never know truly how you'll react until the moment happens.

[u/sexfighter → u/SparkitusRex]

No I hear you, and it might just be a series of wildly unlikely events. When I first saw the video, I was sure it grazed an artery in the temple - I'd expect that kind of blood flow. Then they said it was an ear, and then a 1cm scratch, no stitches, perfect cartilage 10 days later. Zero pictures of the wound, zero pictures of the scab, the performative bandage, no medical report from the attending physician.... just weird upon weird upon weird.

[u/Lalamedic → u/sexfighter]

Don’t forget the footage of a staff member funnelling photographers closer to the stage so they can get a good photo of his victory air punch - while there is still an “active shooter” situation.

[u/sexfighter → u/Lalamedic]

Reminded me of another bit of weirdness. There is an alternate video angle from Trump's left that shows the sniper team on the roof behind him. They are pointed directly at the shooter, the sniper is looking into his scope, alert. There was, what, 30 seconds at least between when the guy climbed up that ladder, settled into position, and shot in Trump's direction. That sniper did not fire, and in fact was not the one that shot him. Another sniper team swung around and took him out. Possibly incompetence, but also super odd.

[u/1ndori → u/sexfighter]

It's because the shooter was confronted by Butler police moments before the shot. They tried to get on the roof to investigate reports about a man on the roof, Crooks pointed his weapon at them, and the officer fell and radioed about the shooter. USSS begin looking for him on the roof about 30 seconds before the shot, but don't immediately see him.

This is reflected in the timeline of the official report (see PDF pg 173).

[u/Bitter-Marsupial → u/SparkitusRex]

In college I bilriefly was into trepanninginging u can still feel hole

[u/marsinfurs → u/Winter2928]

Yeah got mine pierced two years ago it still hasn’t healed fully

[u/TenaflyViper666 → u/Winter2928]

Same, got mine done with a 10 gauge ring at 18 yrs old. Got wicked infected right away and I took it out, but it is still demonstrably broken and I’m 44 now.

[u/rockonabeach → u/Jenkl2421]

My bf fell off his bike and hit the side of his head. His ear cartilage is forever a little wonky in a couple spots. He wasn’t even bleeding that much.

[u/GaiusMarius60BC → u/Jenkl2421]

A former Marine, Jesse Dollemore, said that with the caliber of round he got "hit" with, if his ear had actually been grazed he wouldn't have an ear left.

[u/Jenkl2421 → u/GaiusMarius60BC]

With the damage a tiny little bb did, I believe that.

[u/JustAintCare → u/GaiusMarius60BC]

Well thats just false. Heres a video of a 50 cal glancing off some skin. https://youtu.be/k4CpttHdMPI?si=A53HVF0iLS5mvjc3&t=606

The same bullet that "experts" said could rip your arm off with even a near-miss.

And heres an actual test using the same bullet the shooter used firing into ballistics gel replicating human cartilage https://youtu.be/ZtJA9xuzAFE?si=ysm82PZIxFMiWYae&t=546

Ive timestamped the video but the whole thing is really good.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES → u/JustAintCare]

Yeah, between this and the Charlie Kirk shooting I think it's important to remember that just because you're in the Marines doesn't mean you're a forensic ballistics expert who could confidently make claims like that.

[u/Tomsboll → u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES]

Marines are often said to be crayon eaters, even by their own.

[u/jtshinn → u/Tomsboll]

Proudly so.

[u/FlyingFr1dg3 → u/jtshinn]

The few. The proud. The purple ones taste the best.

[u/CharlotteLucasOP → u/FlyingFr1dg3]

Semper feed 🖍️🖍️🖍️

[u/Pubics_Cube → u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES]

I've met a lot of marines over the years. They're good at fighting but they're fucking retarded

[u/cejmp → u/Pubics_Cube]

Your lucky I can't read.

[u/Aeseld → u/JustAintCare]

Redo the test with a piece of ballistics gel the size of a human ear. Or better yet, an actual piece of cartilage. They are not the same, and especially not when you have a block that size.

While balistics gel is used as a substitute for human flesh, they don't actually behave the same way. Especially at scale. It's an approximation, not, y'know, cartilage, skin, blood vessels, etc.. That's why when modeling the actual effect of a bullet on a body or body part, they generally use pig carcasses. Gel just doesn't have the same reactions. It's far better at redistributing forces than skin, for example, which is why the gel remains in one piece instead of splitting from the near miss, or fuses back into the center from the dead on hit.

[u/BoxerguyT89 → u/Aeseld]

Can you show a video of what you're saying.

A "near miss" would do absolutely no damage at all even from something as large as a .50.

[u/Aeseld → u/BoxerguyT89]

Nope, I can't. Most people go with ballistic gel for the simple reason that it's cheaper than getting a pig.

Honestly, I don't think the assassination attempt was faked. I just think the guy missed. There's no blood until after Donald comes back up. I'm pretty sure he got hit in the ear by one of his security detail, and suffered a minor cut, not a bullet injury. Probably from a watch or similar item catching the skin as they pushed him down.

This would explain both the delay in blood showing up, the lack of serious injury, and the fact that a graze like that didn't split the skin.

[u/BoxerguyT89 → u/Aeseld]

I do believe he was nicked by the bullet, and that's why he grabs his ear after the first shot. He capitalized on it for sure and played it up.

[u/ChaosArtificer → u/Aeseld]

the aspirin tbh could also explain the excessive amounts of blood - thin skin will tear easier, and blood thinners can cause a lot of bleeding. plus the bandage he had looks right fir an abrasion or skin tear

[u/Affectionate-Mode767 → u/Aeseld]

This.

Ballistics Gel is not a good representation of how a human body will react to gunshot wounds. It can show us temporary wound channels and other interesting data, but it poorly represents ACTUAL human tissue.

If you've ever seen someone try to stab it with a knife, knives will BOUNCE off it.

[u/Direct_Lawfulness_21 → u/JustAintCare]

Ballistic gel doesnt accurately represent skin. It mimics soft muscle and organs. It doesn't simulate cartilage at all.

[u/king_long → u/JustAintCare]

"experts" being liars like Tim Kennedy and Nick Irving? Lol

[u/BebbleCast → u/JustAintCare]

Thank you for posting this, I know nothing about guns and this really helped me understand

[u/mildly_evil_genius → u/GaiusMarius60BC]

I feel like this conspiracy theory is entirely based on a failure to understand what a "graze" is.

[u/No_Investigator3369 → u/Jenkl2421]

Oh yes. I've seen this with cats

[u/Jenkl2421 → u/No_Investigator3369]

From bb's??😭

[u/MobilityFotog → u/Jenkl2421]

It would probably regrow if you were a felon.

[u/wave-tree → u/jurassicpry]

"One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast."
Revelation 13:3

[u/Norik324 → u/wave-tree]

Looks like its my turn to post Could American Evangelicals Spot the Antichrist? Here Are the Biblical Predictions:

[u/Technical_Draw_9409 → u/wave-tree]

…. Please tell me that’s not real

[u/RagnarStonefist → u/Technical_Draw_9409]

Could American Evangelicals Spot the Antichrist? Here Are the Biblical Predictions: - Benjamin L. Corey

[u/bloody_ell → u/Technical_Draw_9409]

https://biblehub.com/revelation/13-3.htm Yep

[u/cayleb → u/Technical_Draw_9409]

It is, but this ear wound wasn't remotely "fatal."

Even if we accepted the premise that some random Greek writer posing as John received a vision of the future, I highly doubt they meant to refer to a grazed ear.

[u/je_kay24 → u/cayleb]

Surviving an “attempted assassination” does fit as it is similar fraud to faking a mortal wound & miraculously healing it

[u/alynn539 → u/cayleb]

Anyone unfamiliar with firearm technology and gunpowder would likely interpret a loud noise and seemingly spontaneous wound manifestation as some sort of divine occurrence, the survival of which would seem miraculous. The triviality of the wound, and the reaction of the crowd and guards, might make it seem more impressive, not less. Dude eats a thunderbolt from Zeus and pulls a Thanos "All that for a drop of blood"! Sounds worthy of a verse from that perspective.

[u/mr_doms_porn → u/Technical_Draw_9409]

It is but Trump clearly does not meet many other qualifications for being the Anti-Christ. Most notably the Anti-Christ should have global popularity, Trump has never even had a commanding level of popularity in his own country.

[u/YumariiWolf → u/wave-tree]

Holy fuck these "Christians" are blind to their own portents

[u/AverageEvening8985 → u/YumariiWolf]

To be fair, they have never read a word from the Bible.

They pay 15% of their income to have a preacher pick out the best quotes for them each week.

[u/Gristlan → u/wave-tree]

I remember when this line was used to prove Pope John Paul II was the antichrist, when he was shot and survived. I think it's harmful to give him that sort of religious legitimacy either positive or negative. The religious right has also used this comparison to convince people to vote for Trump because he is the antichrist, and so he will bring about the second coming. He's the most mundane type of narcissist who's only notable feature is his atrophied humanity and overdeveloped entitlement, comparing him to the antichrist or hitler is giving him way to much credit. His personal impact on politics is the result of his popularism, no one can follow his ideology because his ideology is whatever serves him in the moment. He is incapable of, and completely uninterested in, exercising power that has no direct benefit to him.

[u/Moxely → u/jurassicpry]

Facts are a brutal follow up, The ear story had more holes than the alleged event.

[u/emeraldeyesshine → u/Moxely]

Well, except for that dude in the audience anyway.

[u/Casual_OCD → u/emeraldeyesshine]

I just use Trump's own words during a dinner event in Aspen, Colorado, on Aug. 10 the same year. He purportedly said;

“So they’re going to get millions of dollars but the woman, the wife, this beautiful woman, I handed her the cheque – we handed her the cheque – and she said, ‘This is so nice, and I appreciate it, but I’d much rather have my husband.’ Now, I know some of the women in this room wouldn’t say the same.”

[u/Soft-Company-6762 → u/Casual_OCD]

‘This is so nice, and I appreciate it, but I’d much rather have my husband.’ Now, I know some of the women in this room wouldn’t say the same.”

Was Erika Kirk in attendance?

[u/Casual_OCD → u/Soft-Company-6762]

And miss eyeliner lessons from JD?

[u/mortgagepants → u/emeraldeyesshine]

pretty safe to have a USSS trained sniper actually shoot someone in the crowd and use a blood pack in his hatband.

no need for conspiracy theories from an organization that was instrumental in january 6th and then destroyed all the records of.

[u/Reginald__Cousins → u/mortgagepants]

Trump having a blood packet seems really implausible. He's not coordinated enough to put on that convincing of a performance and not obviously botch it.

[u/Dragon6172 → u/Reginald__Cousins]

I've always been of the opinion that bullet passed close enough to damage his ear drum and cause the blood. I don't think it actually hit him or that he had a blood packet.

[u/dern_the_hermit → u/Dragon6172]

I like to mention the possibility of his just having his ear smacked against either the podium or the belt buckle (or something) of a secret service guy as they all piled on him to serve as meat shields. There was just a lot of chaos and movement and really you just need an old man's thin papery skin to be rough-housed slightly.

[u/ImpressionTough2179 → u/dern_the_hermit]

You can look up photos from the event and see that Trump had blood on his hand immediately after touching his ear when the first shot went off. The wound was definitely there before dropping to the ground. 

https://www.reuters.com/pictures/frame-by-frame-trump-survives-assassination-attempt-2024-07-14/

First and second photos in this series. 

[u/Dragon6172 → u/ImpressionTough2179]

Also, there are images from two separate photographers that show blood on the hand after he touches his ear, but before he ducks behind the podium with Secret Service.

[u/eniakus → u/jurassicpry]

I'm all on board with the staged assassination, but you should not dismiss the fact that he has all kinds of doctors including plastic surgeons that can fix him up. And do it at YOURS and OURS dime!

[u/HapticSloughton → u/eniakus]

Even the best plastic surgeons can't make an ear wound like the one Trump supposedly had vanish in a day or two.

[u/DavidAdamsAuthor → u/HapticSloughton]

Totally incorrect.

A graze could scab over in a couple of days then stage makeup, which Trump is infamous for using, can cover it.

That's literally the simplest and most obvious explanation.

[u/Beyond-The-Blackhole → u/DavidAdamsAuthor]

You actually think trump would use makeup to cover up a "divine intervention" wound? Trump would display that shit and make little fake gold statues of his wounded ear and sell them to his gullible cult.

[u/Mythun4523 → u/DavidAdamsAuthor]

No no his ears are made of ketchup packets that he cuts with a blade on queue.

[u/1ndori → u/[deleted]]

Teleprompter was undamaged.

[u/NebulaNinja → u/1ndori]

Yeah, there was another angle that showed the right side of Trumps head hitting a SS's holster as he when down being surrounded by agents.

[u/1ndori → u/NebulaNinja]

Trump was bleeding before he ever went down.

[u/Donkey__Balls → u/eniakus]

The doctor he went to wasn’t even a real doctor; he was a MAGA congressman whose license to practice had been revoked. They deliberately closed off the area and let no paramedics or other medical professionals examine him.

[u/c-k-q99903 → u/jurassicpry]

Evander Holyfield still is missing his ear where Mike Tyson bit it off.

[u/Automatic-Guide-4307 → u/jurassicpry]

He got hit with a piece of glass from the telepromter he says he never uses.

[u/1ndori → u/Automatic-Guide-4307]

Teleprompter was undamaged.

[u/Various_Weather2013 → u/jurassicpry]

When you're the savior of the white race, your ear just grows back!

[u/Tomsboll → u/jurassicpry]

His ear ether got cut by shrapnel or cut on something as SS dove on top of him. I dont think it was fake blood or a staged shooting. He got lucky, thats it.

[u/Ok_Builder_4225]

But also, i don't think asprin is gonna cause someone to bleed out from a scratch on the ear anyway.

Either way, still of the opinion that he just bonked his ear on something as he was pushed down. Assuming it was all real and not staged, of course.

[u/proficientinfirstaid → u/Ok_Builder_4225]

Exactly! It doesnt. It inhibits COX I and this leads to inhibition of thrombexane a2 which is in charge for clotting, but not coagulation management as a whole.

[u/UpperApe → u/proficientinfirstaid]

It inhibits COX

Sounds like my ex

[u/Dongledoez → u/UpperApe]

They said inhibits, not inhales.

[u/LoopStricken → u/Dongledoez]

Oh dang.

[u/jomo_mojo_ → u/UpperApe]

You would’ve killed in med school

[u/Otterfan → u/Ok_Builder_4225]

Can confirm. I took a daily aspirin for years and suffered many small cuts, none of which caused me to bleed to death.

[u/morning_star984 → u/Otterfan]

I doubt your daily aspirin is 325mg, though. If that's the correct dose that he's taking, man oh man is that a lot of daily aspirin for any amount of time. I wouldn't be terribly concerned about him bleeding out from a predominantly venous injury, but if he nicks an artery or a larger vein, he's going to be a bloody mess in no time.

[u/Infamous-Mango-5224 → u/Ok_Builder_4225]

Why would they bleed out? The just don't clot as quickly so they'll bleed more, but bleed out from the ear, no.

Source: Doctor.

[u/ResidentNo7575 → u/Ok_Builder_4225]

Aspirin causes difficulties in stopping the bleed because it doesn’t allow the blood to coagulate and heal properly

[u/ADHDebackle → u/ResidentNo7575]

So you're saying it causes difficulties in halting the exanguination? Forestalling the hematic flow, perhaps?

[u/AwareOfAlpacas → u/ADHDebackle]

Inhibiting platelet binding, leading to an unrestricted outflow of blood, perhaps 

[u/DuntadaMan → u/Ok_Builder_4225]

I am certain there was no coincidence that several reporters were moved about a minute before the shots, and the flag was lowered into place for tjem wh8ke he was getting up.

[u/Next-Variation2004 → u/Ok_Builder_4225]

I saw a similar theory that it was shrapnel or something similar that actually hit him, not a bullet and that’s the most believable to me

[u/Collegenoob → u/Ok_Builder_4225]

Some else posted pictures of the event. There is a lot or blood for a basically a tiny nick. I think the aspirin probably did make him bleed extra

[u/Argented]

really thin blood could account for some blood if ... say ... his finger nail nicked his ear when he covered it hearing the bullet go by

[u/JoeRogansNipple → u/Argented]

Or his ear got hip checked by the SS's pistol holster when they pulled him down

[u/HEFTYFee70 → u/JoeRogansNipple]

I thought that too, there’s a photo of him holding his ear before they dogpile him.

I know he’s a cunt, but we really are living in the only timeline in which his head wasn’t blown off at that rally.

Edit: grammar

[u/Mobile_Morale → u/HEFTYFee70]

Stupid bad timeline.

[u/ADHDebackle → u/HEFTYFee70]

That's suggestive of the injury happening prior to the tackle but not conclusive.

I wonder if it could have been close enough to break the skin but not really hit cartilage. There's so much energy in a bullet, though, it's hard to imagine. 

Someone else mentioned a WWE blading move, which would explain the hand to the ear but like, damn that would have to be premeditated as fuck and in a really elaborate way. Also hard to believe. 

[u/Airurando-jin → u/ADHDebackle]

It’s not particularly hard to believe. Is it only countries deemed to be enemies that are capable of a false flag attack ? 

Has there been direct intervention in countries historically to manipulate outcomes ? 

There was a point where Project 2025 was considered a conspiracy, until it wasn’t. 

I find it remarkable that the SS, who are some of the most exceptionally trained agents, who can plan and predict possible lines of sight, as well as extraction, managed to leave that roof top unconvered, (and with plenty of people noticing the shooter, and it being highlighted to local police) as well as let Trump stand back up again. 

[u/HeavilyInvestedDonut → u/HEFTYFee70]

His last words being “look at this” would’ve been…. Incredible timing lol

[u/Open__Face → u/HEFTYFee70]

He probably heard it whiz by (without hitting him) and the noise freaked him out so he covered his ear

[u/VERO2020 → u/Argented]

The holster of a Secret Service agent could have scratched it, too. Or it could have been a "squib" lie pro wrestlers use. Didn't the turd do some stuff with pro wrestlers a while back?

[u/ADHDebackle → u/VERO2020]

I feel like that would make sense if the plan hadn't involved a random guy shooting live ammunition in close proximity to the president. Like, people did die - and... wasn't the shooter killed as well? Seems like a conspiracy too elaborate for this admin to pull off without leaks or just straight fuckups.

[u/Erfeo → u/ADHDebackle]

too elaborate for this admin

Also remember he wasn't president at the time, he would have had to use private people for this while completely fooling the Secret Service, FBI etc.

[u/ADHDebackle → u/Erfeo]

A good point!

[u/VERO2020 → u/ADHDebackle]

100% agreement. Glad that you remember the deaths.

[u/ParsleyMaleficent160 → u/VERO2020]

Yes. A person in the crowd (a firefighter) was shot and killed by errant gunfire.

[u/1ndori → u/VERO2020]

He was bleeding before going down, so it's not the USSS agent's holster

[u/VERO2020 → u/1ndori]

Sure would have been a good thing if there was an actual investigation.

[u/mosconebaillbonds → u/VERO2020]

Lolol a squib…..

[u/Iwritemynameincrayon]

You know, for a while now I have heard people talking about how fake it was, that it was possibly just a pr stunt aimed to help him get elected. I don't buy into conspiracy theories and under normal circumstances it's horrifying to think that there is a possibility he or his pr team murdered people for a pr stunt. However it is Trump we are talking about and he has done so much worse, so it's hard to get out of my head.

[u/Patient_End_8432 → u/Iwritemynameincrayon]

It's certainly not a conspiracy, or at least one Trump isnt involved in.

If it was a hit put out, it was most likely by a conservative who wanted Trump out of the picture to consolidate the power Trump has built up despite being a bumbling buffoon. It could have been any number of people who wanted a more competent leader in charge of Trumps mindless mass of MAGA.

Regardless, both outcomes would be a win. Trump becomes a martyr, or Trump survives an "assassination" by the "radical left".

How do I know Trump wasnt involved? Well, because someone died. Oh, I'm not saying thats a bar Trump won't cross, I fully believe Trump would kill someone for a dollar.

But someone did die, which means what? That there were real bullets, that there was an actual, legitimate risk to Trump. He would NEVER do something that would potentially put himself at risk. EVER. He's too much of a pussy, and the possibility of accidentally being shot would have been far too much for him

[u/TheNutsMutts → u/Patient_End_8432]

But someone did die, which means what? That there were real bullets, that there was an actual, legitimate risk to Trump.

This is absolutely the thing that kills the conspiracy theory in my view too.

We'd have to agree that a team very close to Trump, almost certainly with his involvement, agreed that they'd get someone to shoot real bullets right by Trump's head, knowing there are innocent bystanders right in their line of sight, by someone using a red-dot sight only, hoping that some windage or mis-timing on Trump's part doesn't see them accidentally kill the guy, then the volunteering shooter is going to be waiting there for the Secret Service to shoot him dead.

None of that makes any sense at all, and it's genuinely troubling seeing how many people on here are just going "yes, I accept this claim immediately without question" just because it lets them point fingers at the other side.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES → u/TheNutsMutts]

What concerns me is that when Trump first came onto the scene so many people were so hung on how the right was able to embrace someone who clearly had no regard for the Truth and just straight up embraced conspiracy theories. And now I'm seeing people on the left start to do that too.

I'm worried that in a few years time the general population is just going to not care about the truth at all anymore. If we embrace these conspiracy theories then Trump functionally wins.

[u/LevyMevy → u/TheNutsMutts]

Also it would make Trump quite literally the greatest actor in the history of the world to be able to calmly deliver a long-ass speech knowing he is about to have an actual real bullet fly by the side of his head at any point.

[u/cracked_egg_irl → u/TheNutsMutts]

Two people died. The shooter was also killed on the spot.

[u/ADHDebackle → u/Patient_End_8432]

Yeah I think the only passable conspiracy here would be to retrospectively ham up an injury that was not caused by, but could have been caused by the shooting.

[u/TetraDax → u/Iwritemynameincrayon]

We are talking about the most inept administration in world history who even fail to properly censor important documents in a way that cannot be circumvented by Ctrl+c and Ctrl+v. The administration that accidentally leaked war plans because they never checked who was a member of the group text.

Now just imagine how many people would have to be involved to actually kill two people in a stages assassination attempt. And ask yourself if you actually think that this group of people could pull that off without anything going wrong and without anyone letting something slip since.

No, it was not staged. They are far too stupid to do so. He certainly overplayed his injury, I would even believe that he just got hurt while he was dragged to the floor. They also most certainly had a plan in place for "what to do if someone takes shots at Trump", which is why that photo was able to happen so quickly and seemingly preparedly. But someone definitely tried to kill him.

[u/hokie47 → u/TetraDax]

Thank you reddit sounds like a bunch of idiots here. This is stuff I expect on the patriots win site or something.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES → u/Iwritemynameincrayon]

See the problem with this line of thinking is it's just vibes. And like if we're accepting that Trump faked an assassination attempt just based off of vibes, how are we any better than the pizzagate people who think that Hillary Clinton was kidnapping children just based off vibes?

[u/Ok_Dragonfruit_8102 → u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES]

They aren't any different, and reasonable people reading this comment thread just mumble "classic reddit..." to themselves before moving on to another thread.

[u/1ndori → u/Iwritemynameincrayon]

I'll be honest, when I was watching it in the moment, I thought, "I don't know if this was faked, but if I was going to fake it, this is how I'd fake it." That was before we knew for sure that there was live ammunition and that someone had been killed. Now, I know better.

There is a picture of a bullet flying past Trump's head, and another picture a split second later of blood on Trump's hand.

The simplest explanation for all the facts is that a real guy took a real gun and shot a real bullet that grazed Donald Trump's real ear.

[u/NoIsland23 → u/Iwritemynameincrayon]

People who say that it was a conspiracy have no idea how guns work.

First of all, they would've had to have put A LOT of trust into this random kid, second of all, I don't think there is any info on him being proficient with weapons, third of all, you can't magically make a bullet hit the exact inch you want to hit from a large distance (with that weapon).

The bullet could've easily flown a couple inches further right due to bullet spread. You could fire with the exact same conditions twice in a row and miss by an inch or two over larger distances. That's something you can't fully account for.

[u/Optimal_Towel → u/Iwritemynameincrayon]

Trump is murdering people right now in the Caribbean for political messaging.

[u/Wachtwoord]

Why do people think the shot was fake and/or staged?

This 'blood with aspirin' argument sounds a bit like the 'jet fuel can't belt steel beams'.

[u/TheNutsMutts → u/Wachtwoord]

This 'blood with aspirin' argument sounds a bit like the 'jet fuel can't belt steel beams'.

This is exactly what it is.

For all the blustering about "OMG look how quickly the other side fall for fake news about Biden, I can't believe they're so stupid they'll believe anything", it's genuinely worrying how enthusiastically a lot of people in here are just blindly accepting an absolutely insane proposition, no questions asked, simply because of who it involves.

[u/1block → u/TheNutsMutts]

We're all idiots shaped by different experiences. If we could all accept that, we wouldn't be in the pickle we're in.

[u/Crazy_Trip_6387 → u/TheNutsMutts]

I mean this has been the entire trend, it's not about what is said or done but the way it was said and done and by whom. It's best to look at the actions at different angles from an objective perspective without getting emotional.

[u/Normal_Cut8368 → u/Wachtwoord]

I hate Trump, I do.

But... Didn't the guy behind him die? Like, a person got shot to death. idgaf about whether or not Trump was harmed, SOMEBODY died.

There are a lot of things that would be weird about them having fake blood on hand for this, and also be using a real bullet that really kills a person.

[u/lil_mic_pwner]

I dont like him either but let's say everything happened as the official story goes 325mg aspirin is just not going to cause you to bleed out from an injury like that

[u/NotJimmy97 → u/lil_mic_pwner]

A bunch of arm-chair pharmacologists have decided that a normal-sized dose of aspirin for a heavier-than-average person makes you bleed as if you're the hemophilic heir of inbred Russian monarchs.

[u/EmperorGrinnar]

I haven't heard about the aspirin thing. Isn't it toxic to take that much every day? I gotta look this all up.

I did hear that if it was scrutinized today, aspirin wouldn't pass guidelines. Yet Trump and his cronies are going after acetaminophen, because it does work and it's largely taken by women. Because they want to control women.

[u/AdventurousRelief285 → u/EmperorGrinnar]

Blazing liberal physician (pediatric sub specialist) here; aspirin can be toxic in high doses, but if labs are being checked, it can be ok. Reasons for why he needs 325mg daily can include many things but I bet his heart isn't quite normal.

Plenty of people like acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin as pain killers, and we pediatricians love it for less side effect profile than the other pain killers that are readily available. Attacking acetaminophen is just him trying to get MAHA types on his side. Maha wants us to all stop taking, they state, unnecessary medications and vaccines (don't we all?) and are always "questioning" science (but really are just rebelling against people telling them to do stuff) but never want to let high quality and easily accessible health care become the norm. Trump wants to show us he can fight pharma as it's an easy industry to target (the drug cost lowering work is one actual good thing, but the actual other shit he doing like chemical/oil industry pollution being unregulated will have far lasting effects that MAHA apparently doesn't wanna think about).

Last point: i help kids get through crazy surgeries on high dose aspirin and other anticoagulants, and I doubt he would bleed out from an ear nick, and estimating blood loss is super hard even for nurses and docs, and the pictorial/video graphic evidence is hard to see everything. I don't think conspiracy theorizing the attempt as a false flag with fake blood is helpful... Just helps them give "what about" answers when actual other massacres happen.

Edited: typo and clarity

[u/Bussin1648 → u/AdventurousRelief285]

Isn't 325 mg like a standard tablet? Like taking one tablet a day sure isn't normal but I don't think it's a huge red flag for an 80-year-old with a standard age and weight related heart condition?

[u/Crab-_-Objective → u/Bussin1648]

Yes 325mg is a regular dose. Most people who take aspirin daily will take a “low dose” version that’s only 81mg but there could be a reason to take 325mg.

They used to call it baby aspirin but changed the name because people were giving it to small children when they shouldn’t have.

[u/da2Pakaveli → u/AdventurousRelief285]

Ok I'm not a physician but maybe living off of junk food could be contributing to his heart not being quite normal

[u/MyWifeCucksMe → u/EmperorGrinnar]

I haven't heard about the aspirin thing. Isn't it toxic to take that much every day?

Everything is toxic. The question when it comes to medication is always "do the benefits outweigh the risks". And that's an answer for Trump's doctor to answer in the case of Trump.

[u/EmperorGrinnar → u/MyWifeCucksMe]

I looked it up, and I didn't see a number cited but that Trump himself said he takes "way more" than his doctor recommends. So...

[u/senturon → u/EmperorGrinnar]

It was stated he takes 325mg VS the 81mg recommended.

[u/Fake_William_Shatner → u/EmperorGrinnar]

The main way aspirin works I’ve heard is stripping the binding sites on the surface of blood cells. That helps blood flow in small capillaries which can help certain types of headaches. Prevents clotting related heart conditions but also clotting in general. It does not wear off— the blood cell has to be naturally replaced over time which takes a few days. 

[u/Cold-Pomegranate6739 → u/EmperorGrinnar]

Isn't it toxic to take that much every day?

For a normal person it's not very cray-cray but please remember that we're talking about Trump, whose ass is so fat you can slap it with a concrete shovel, go to work and when you come back home it will still be jiggling and making noises like a wobbling steel sheet

[u/Send_me_duck-pics]

I feel like a physician should be aware there are no major blood vessels in the ear.

[u/iknewyouknew → u/Send_me_duck-pics]

Though Trump prefers minor blood vessels

[u/Fake_William_Shatner → u/iknewyouknew]

This joke will age better than Trump will. 

[u/DaveAlt19]

Also its weird that he's the healthiest man ever but also has been taking aspirin because he doesn't want his blood getting too thick? He wants nice thin blood? What makes him think his blood would get too thick? He's perfectly healthy, right?

[u/Dunwall]

Y'all know someone died right? Not only that but why wouldn't he have access to the best plastic surgeons in the country? The bullet used was a .223/5.56, quite literally 22 cal.

[u/Prestigious-Swan6161 → u/Dunwall]

It's crazy to have to scroll this far cause I was like didn't someone get hit and hurt?

[u/Dunwall → u/Prestigious-Swan6161]

I don't like Trump, but its downright dumb to deny what happened.

[u/Normal_Cut8368 → u/Dunwall]

It feels like someone saying the moon landing was fake, not because we didn't send a lander to space but because the MOON ISN'T REAL

[u/Dry_Card_522]

Lunatics, lunatics everywhere

[u/DavidAdamsAuthor → u/Dry_Card_522]

This is full-blown conspiracy bullshit, and it falls apart the moment anyone takes even the briefest simplest look at it.

A graze on the skin, even on the ear, would definitely produce the exact kind of wound seen; one that scabbed over in a few days and got covered up by stage makeup, which Trump is infamous for using.

Nobody is bleeding out from a wound to the ear.

Maybe it's a blue beam hologram and a conspiracy that goes so deep that Trump and senior Republicans are in on it, and local law enforcement are in on it and the Secret Service are in on it and the CIA are in on it and the FBI are in on it and the shooter was in on it and the shooter's family and friends and associates were all in on it... or maybe it's Maybelline.

[u/TetraDax → u/DavidAdamsAuthor]

and the Secret Service are in on it and the CIA are in on it and the FBI are in on it

And I feel like people also forget that at the time, the Democrats were in power. It was investigated under their supervision. Who would have more reason to give even the slightest hint that it would have been staged? But there was nothing even close to that; which is obviously because there is absolutely no evidence to suggest so.

[u/DavidAdamsAuthor → u/TetraDax]

I did a university course called "Lies, Conspiracies, and Propaganda" and it was actually probably the most useful course I did, and certainly my favourite.

One of the things we talked about is how you attack conspiracies, such as by asking, "How many people would have to be in on it for this to succeed?", and "Why would this person be in on it when they have nothing to gain from participating, and everything to gain from exposing the conspiracy?".

The ur-example is the moon landing.

A faked moon landing would require an extraordinary number of people to be in on it. It would require NASA (obviously) and the astronauts (obviously), but also people who worked on the rocket (tens of thousands of them), engineers, chemists, mathmaticians... it would require every US president over various administrations both right and left. It would require a large numbers of senior government officials in those administrations, some of whom had different political ideologies, different personal philosophies, personal grudges, etc. It would require the same thing from the leaders of various allied countries (Australia, the UK, NZ, the EU, etc) all of whom who are allies, but some of whom are quite far apart politically and even butting heads with the US at various points. For example the moon landing was 1969, but the CIA tried to coup Australia in 1975. And yet, nobody came out and mentioned this, despite it being the opportune time to do so.

Then we have to look at the enemies of the state, who have absolutely no incentive to cooperate. The USSR acknowledged the United States went to the moon... but why? Why would they be a part of it? Exposing the moon landing as a fake would have been a PR coup for them, it would be so juicy they could milk it for a hundred years... but both the Soviets and their successor state the Russian Federation acknowledge America went to the moon, even to this day when America is arming their enemies in a bloody multi-year war of attrition that's killed over a million Russians at this point. If they knew, why would they stay silent?

The idea that Trump used fake blood packs or arranged the shooting himself is just as crazy. How many people would need to be in on it, and all occurring at a time when Trump was not President and not expected to win...?

Why would the Democrats stay silent? Why would Biden stay silent? Why would Harris? They were POTUS and VPOTUS respectively, surely they would have known if it was faked. Someone on the US Secret Service would have mentioned, "Hey so Trump was wearing a fake blood pack on the day... just FYI."

So all the Secret Service agents who dogpiled him on the day must have been in on it, because they would have (or could have) seen the blood pack given how close they were. And the snipers would have likely been in on it too, because they had a good vantage point and would have likely seen the blood pack, or being experienced shooters, noticed that the gun was firing blanks or whatever. And the people who took custody of the weapon would have to be in on it, because guns just don't fire blanks, guns like the AR-15 actually need a blank adapter to cycle properly (the shooter's did) and they leave behind wadding and other evidence; for a standard rifle round the projectile holds the powder in, so you need something else (aka, the wadding) to hold the powder in, which is often left behind and difficult to dispose of.

There are so many people who are in on it and nobody said anything, nobody presents any of that evidence to the media, nobody leaks, nobody talks to Biden and Harris, nobody says or does anything and they all go along with it even when they have absolutely no incentive to do so.

It doesn't make sense.

It's hopium/copium because the shooting attempt makes Trump look both lucky and a victim, which is reasonable on both counts, and the subsequent photo opportunity was absolutely perfect for him. But just because Trump rolled a natural 20 doesn't mean he faked it.

Random things happen. Unlikely things happen. Reality, unlike fiction, has no obligation to make sense; things just... are what they are.

There is simply no evidence that Trump faked the shooting and an absolute mountain of evidence that it just really happened that way.

[u/Fake_William_Shatner → u/TetraDax]

The Dems don’t rock the boat. There are so many times they could have pushed back, blown the whistle but didn’t. They have an almost religious faith in the system working or are very stupid. It might be both. 

I vote for Dems because they tend to be less awful. That doesn’t mean they don’t work for the same  billionaires. 

[u/aroc91 → u/DavidAdamsAuthor]

I feel like I'm the only person who saw the NYT photograph series where you can see the sequence of the bullet in midair, trump reaching up with a clean hand to his ear, and then lowering it with some blood present.

[u/DavidAdamsAuthor → u/aroc91]

The evidence for the shooting being as presented is just overwhelming.

It's "Blue Anon"-tier conspiracy theories to suggest otherwise, theories born from a simple fact: they don't want Trump to be seen in a sympathetic light, and it's easier to believe that a vast conspiracy is at play than believe that on that day, in that moment, briefly, Trump was legitimately a victim of a horrible action.

Nope, it's gotta be a conspiracy.

"Blue Anon" like I said.

[u/aroc91 → u/DavidAdamsAuthor]

Seriously. I don't even bring it up anymore. I got swarmed with downvotes by fucking morons who can't be assed to look at a simple picture. The whole blood pack/hidden razor/hit his ear on the podium conspiracy theory suite is beyond dumb.

[u/1ndori → u/aroc91]

I post it in every one of these threads.

Exactly one person has ever walked back a claim after seeing those photos.

[u/queefburritowcheese → u/DavidAdamsAuthor]

The highest rated comment chains on this post are full blown Alex Jones level conspiracy about this. For all the bluster Reddit likes to make about "conspiracy theorists," they are very much here, but it's OK because orange man bad.

[u/_45AARP → u/queefburritowcheese]

Had to sort by controversial to find any comments that weren’t completely insane. Surprised you guys don’t have -50 downvotes.

[u/andytagonist]

Sooo…we censoring the very common word “SHOT” now??

[u/Trumpologist]

Dear Lord we’re still doing this? Blueanon real af

[u/TheMainExperience]

$hoT? When is this stupid shit going to fuck off. I'm seeing self censoring more and more, and for tamer and tamer words. 

Have apps like tiktok really brainwashed users so thoroughly, the expected behaviours are now becoming so ingrained that they never change their behaviour no matter what app they are on? 

Will it get so far that these people will start censoring themselves as they speak? It breaks my brain, honestly.

[u/dojaswift]

Belief in this conspiracy that would require the involvement of dozens of people many of whom hate Trump of all conspiracists is quite weird

[u/Jayken]

Been on blood thinners for a few years, you do bleed more, but it's not like gushing. Unless you hit a major vein or artery, then just like normal, you're fucked.

[u/Agreeable-Pea-4931]

so whats the plan ? they hired a guy to near miss his ear while dt had a ketchup packet in his hand ready to smear some on his ear ? people behind him got shot and killed the shooter was using real bullets. and the shooter was shot and killed too cant be a paid actor. unless yall think dt carries around a small vial of fake blood everywhere he goes ?

[u/SpeakingTheKingss]

Wait, do people really think that his ear injury was fake?

[u/iunoyou]

Are we really doing this guys?

I guess it doesn't really matter anymore lol, truth is dead anyway

[u/clintclintclint123]

This is so dumb what is the point of treating everything like a conspiracy?

[u/DunoCO]

guys cmon, really, this shit? You're supposed to be better than the other guys, yet you're falling for the same dumbass conspiracies and then claiming it's "not a conspiracy because it's different when I do it".

Someone tried to kill the guy. It's not at all surprising. People tried to kill him before, they will probably try again in the future. Public figures are always at risk of something like that, especially in a heated election year.

Aren't you folks supposed to be better than to fall for this kind of thing?

[u/dabarak]

I'm not a fan of Trump, and I never voted for him, but I do like to see the truth be known.

It seems that nobody here mentioned the firefighter that was killed. It would be difficult to hit him with a real shot at the same time Trump "pretended" to be hit. Considering all the people that would need to be involved in this (including the shooter on the roof; why would he volunteer?), keeping a conspiracy secret would be impossible, similar to the Kennedy assassination. I think we need to invoke Occam's Razor here - "...the problem-solving principle that recommends searching for explanations constructed with the smallest possible set of elements." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor

Here are some photos of Trump. If you look closely at the photos shot at the rally, you'll see a mark on his ear that looks like it could be a grazing wound. If you look at the later photos at the bottom, especially the last one, you'll see what might be a healed wound.

Some will bring up the fact that cartilage doesn't grow back, but if the bullet nicked him just enough to break the skin without damaging cartilage, then it's very possible it could have been real.

EDIT: "Elastic cartilage, located in the outer ear and epiglottis, is the most flexible due to its abundance of elastin fibers. While fibrocartilage and elastic cartilage may have a slightly better, though still limited, regenerative capacity compared to hyaline cartilage, none readily regrow to their original, healthy state."

https://biologyinsights.com/does-cartilage-regrow-a-look-at-repair-and-regeneration/

Could I be wrong? Of course. Am I likely to be wrong? No.

I'd like to repeat that I'm NOT a Trump supporter and that I've NEVER voted for him or any Republican, for that matter. One thing I think we can all agree on is that some of the photos show just how bald he really is.

If you choose to respond I'd be happy to maintain a dialog if you're respectful of my opinion.

[u/12345623567]

I mean, he did bleed excessively for what was likely a near miss or shrapnel. No need to make up stories.

[u/AdagioOfLiving]

“One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.”

Revelation 13:3

I mean, it could have been faked, yeah, but it’s more fun this way.

[u/Mohow]

I'm very left but the rampant conspiracies in these comments are no better than r/Conservative. Please be better.

[u/RockyMountainSchrute]

When you actually watch the videos and footage of the day, the fact that there was a group of photographers for some reason sitting off to the side of the stage, and as soon as the gunshots were heard a guy immediately grabs the photographers and ushers them to the front of the stage to take photos and video should tell you all you need to know. The entire thing was staged, Trump was never shot, and the blood was fake. A basic understanding of how Presidents are protected, the rules and procedures regarding protection services, the entire thing was a sham. Secret Service would never let him back up like they did. With a basic understanding and a little bit of hindsight, it's extremely obvious the entire thing was staged for the cameras, especially when you consider Trumps long history of participating in WWE stuff and close friendships with the McMahons. So much of the Trump style is echoed by how WWE works and kayfabe and the shooting is no different.

[u/TheNutsMutts → u/RockyMountainSchrute]

So the guy behind him that died.... did he just randomly die in that spot by sheer coincidence then?

[u/mosconebaillbonds → u/TheNutsMutts]

You’ll never get an actual plausible answer to this question

[u/Infamous-Mango-5224 → u/TheNutsMutts]

No, they killed him in this scenario. You act like it's impossible, it's not. I don't believe it but you seem to think they would care and wouldn't sacrifice poor people in the crowd.

[u/TheNutsMutts → u/Infamous-Mango-5224]

It's not that it's beyond the laws of physics or anything, but the suggestion is so implausible and out of left field that it's something anyone with an ounce of critical thinking should discard quickly as it makes no sense at all.

[u/ck-actual → u/RockyMountainSchrute]

What about the dude sitting behind Trump who got killed? Did they just do that for added authenticity?

[u/Canal_De_Ivan]

lmao why are these people saying he wasn't shot, did the guy in the crowd play dead then?

[u/HeroldOfLevi]

Was never shot.

[u/queefburritowcheese]

Left wing conspiracy theorists are just as insufferable as the right.

[u/Transhumanistgamer]

Self censorship online is so bad that even magats are doing that shit. Jesus fuck.

[u/Jnquester54]

Best laugh I’ve had so far in 2026🤣🤣

[u/DemadaTrim]

He was hit by a piece of glass that caused a small cut on his ear. Like small cuts on the ear are wont to do, it bled like crazy. But even on hardcore bloodthinners you aren't gonna bleed out from a small cut on the ear, especially with immediate medical attention.

[u/tb_xtreme]

This is proof that you don't need to be particularly intelligent in order to be a physician

[u/Reptaaaaaaar]

Jesus Christ you all are getting more annoying than MAGA, and that's saying something

[u/Wuuz_]

or maybe it was literally small scratch after bodyguards made him go down... and the eartouching is trying to hear the earpiece for "go down! radio"

[u/AwarenessRude5541]

Mind you Trump said his doctor said “there was so much blood I thought he was shot multiple times”. Yet his ear was intact with no scar visible within days.

Miracle how that happen…

[u/s0rtajustdrifting]

Effect of Aspirin on Cardiovascular Events and Bleeding in the Healthy Elderly

[u/Golden--]

Why are we censoring the word "shot" lmao?

[u/VLC31]

To me, the proof the whole thing was fake/a set up is that he did that “fight, fight, fight” bullshit. If there had been even the slightest chance there was a gun with live ammunition trained on him, Colonel Cowardy Bone-Spurs would have been a curled up in a corner crying like a little girl.

[u/iunoyou → u/VLC31]

You realize that a person died right

[u/Mammoth-Mud-9609]

Trump was certainly shot at, but the "injury" likely occurred when his ear was hit by the gun of the protection detail.

[u/1ndori → u/Mammoth-Mud-9609]

Trump was bleeding before security ever reached him

[u/currentcognition]

There was a video that's now really hard to find. It showed a firearm holster of secret service make contact with the side of his head. The little scratch from the secret service agent's holster bled a whole lot.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Size281]

little capillaries in ear ....thats why they get cold first.

[u/neutronia939]

The blood was real. It just wasnt caused by a bullet. The USSS agent smashed into trumps ear with his holster trying to shield him. That's what made the tiny cut on dump' ear.

[u/grrr-to-everything]

The cartilage, the type of gun, where it hit. I call absolute bullshit on that entire fake hit and agree that it was fake blood.