New photos appear to show Donald Trump’s ear has completely healed

Former US president Donald Trump has made a strong recovery, less than two weeks after he was wounded in an attempted assassination.

Donald Trump’s ear appears to have completely healed, just two weeks after an assassination attempt near Butler, Pennsylvania.

Thomas Matthew Crooks fired off eight shots at Mr Trump from an AR-15-style rifle during a rally on July 13, leaving the former US president’s ear and face bloodied.

Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. Picture: AFP

His ear was injured. Picture: AFP

Mr Trump gestured to the crowd and said “fight, fight, fight” after the assassination attempt. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

For days afterwards, Mr was seen sporting a large bandage on his right ear, which became iconic, prompting his fans to wear one as well.

At the time, he copped criticism from tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who called the large bandage a “PR stunt”.

The white bandage was later downgraded to a smaller skin-coloured bandage.

Less than two weeks later, Mr Trump appears to have had a miraculous recovery.

He was photographed at Turning Point Action’s The Believers Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 26, 2024 without a bandage, his ear seemingly totally healed.

Former US First Lady Melania Trump kisses Donald Trump, who is wearing a large white bandage, on the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 18, 2024. Picture: AFP

Donald Trump with vice presidential nominee J. Vance on July 20, 2024, just two days later, Mr Trump downgraded his bandage to something noticeably smaller. Picture: AFP

Donald Trump seen on July 26, his right ear seemingly completely healed. Picture: AFP

Mr Trump’s ear has miraculously healed after being shot by an AR-15-style rifle, a powerful semiautomatic gun. Picture: AFP

It comes after conflicting statements by authorities as to whether he was actually shot in the ear with a bullet, or suffered wounds from shrapnel.

Mr Trump, 78, has always insisted a bullet caused the injury to his ear.

However, this week, FBI director Christopher Wray suggested it wasn’t clear whether Mr Trump was hit by a bullet, or merely shrapnel or glass.

The agency cleared that up with the following statement: “What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle.”

A return to outdoor rallies

Mr Trump said on Saturday he would return to holding outdoor rallies with additional Secret Service protection, two weeks after the assassination attempt at an open-air campaign event.

“I will continue to do outdoor rallies, and the Secret Service has agreed to substantially step up their operation. They are very capable of doing so,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

“No one can ever be allowed to stop or impede free speech or gathering,” he added.

His remarks came after the Secret Service reportedly encouraged Mr Trump’s campaign to stop scheduling outdoor campaign events following his assassination attempt, opting instead for large indoor arenas.

Trump was wounded when a 20-year-old gunman shot at him during an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, killing one person and injuring two others.

Investigators are still working to establish a motive for the attack, which marked another stunning chapter in the US election race and sparked heavy criticism of the Secret Service.

Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday after acknowledging that the agency had failed in its mission of protecting high-profile politicians.

She told a congressional committee that the Secret Service was alerted “two to five times” ahead of the attack about a “suspicious individual” at the rally, but was unable to locate him before he opened fire.

Perched on the roof of a nearby building, he was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper less than 30 seconds after firing the first of eight shots.

Mr Trump has made the shooting a key part of his campaign pitch, telling supporters that he “took a bullet for democracy” and vowing to return to Butler for a “big and beautiful rally.” On Saturday, the Republican and his running mate JD Vance were scheduled to hold a campaign event at an indoor, 6000-seat hockey arena in the midwestern US state of Minnesota.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris — who is on track to become the Democratic nominee — was set to attend a fundraising event in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

- with AFP

Originally published as New photos appear to show Donald Trump’s ear has completely healed