Former President Donald Trump said surviving two failed assassination attempts in two months has "hardened [his] resolve" to help the country thrive.
Trump made his remarks to a packed crowd during a Wednesday night rally on Long Island, New York at the Nassau Coliseum.
“As you know, three days ago, there was yet another assassination attempt on my life,” Trump said of the Sunday assassination attempt at his West Palm Beach, Florida golf course, prompting the audience to erupt with boos. “It was the second one in eight weeks by a violent radical left mobster.”
The former president then said God had once again spared his life.
“It must have been God, thank you. Not once, but twice," he said. "These encounters with death have not broken my will. They have really given me a much bigger and stronger mission." Trump: "These encounters with death have not broken my will. They've only hardened my resolve to use my time on earth to make America great again for all Americans." pic.twitter.com/Rmzuy5nFba
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) September 18, 2024
“They’ve only hardened my resolve to use my time on earth to make America great again for all Americans,” the former president continued. “To put America first. We’re gonna put America first.”
Trump went on to predict he would win New York state this November.
"The reason I'm here is because — it hasn't been done in many decades. It hasn't been done for a long time — but we are going to win New York," Trump said as the audience cheered. "That's the first time in many, many years that a Republican can honestly say it and we're gonna do it."
New York has not been won by a Republican since President Ronald Reagan's 49-state landslide victory in 1984.
In July, Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt after being shot in the ear while speaking in Butler, Pennsylvania. After several gunshots were heard, Trump dropped to the floor of the stage as Secret Service rushed to protect him. After the gunman, who was later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was confirmed dead, Secret Service helped Trump to his feet.
Trump then held his fist in the air as he was escorted offstage by Secret Service.
On Sunday, a 58-year-old man identified as Ryan Wesley Routh hid for 12 hours with a rifle near the former president's Florida golf course. Routh later pointed an AK-47 at Trump through a fence as the former president played a round of golf, seemingly with the intent to harm Trump.
On Monday, Routh made his first federal court appearance where he faced two counts of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Routh faces up to 20 years in prison for his two charges, though other charges are expected as the investigation continues.
