Trump says assassination attempt 'wasn't easy' as he compares it to Purple Heart veterans

Donald Trump drew parallels between the assassination attempt on his life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year and the sacrifices made by Purple Heart veterans as he honoured several of them at a White House ceremony on Thursday afternoon.

"Last year, after an assassin tried to take my life in Butler, Pennsylvania, Thomas [Matteo] generously mailed me one of his Purple Hearts," the president said.

"Many of the other veterans showed me the same gesture of unbelievable kindness, including three-time Purple Heart recipient John Ford and Gerald Enter Jr., who also came along with us and did us a great, great favor," the president continued. "Gerald, John and Thomas, I want to thank you very much."

The three veterans Trump mentioned were present at the event. They each, as he said, mailed him one of their Purple Hearts after he was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks.

Crooks, who was from Bethel Park - an affluent neighbourhood in the south of Pittsburgh - ventured 53 miles to the Butler Farm Show grounds, where the rally took place, and opened fire from a nearby rooftop, wounding two attendees and killing a third, reports The Mirror US.

Trump's right ear was grazed in the process. Days later, he was at the Republican National Convention, where he officially accepted his party's nomination after being voted in as its candidate for the presidency.

"What a great honor to get those Purple Hearts," Trump continued before drawing parallels between his own experiences and those endured by the three veterans to earn their Purple Hearts.

"I guess, in a certain way, it wasn't that easy for me, either, when you think of it," he remarked, before conceding: "But you went through a lot more than I did, and I appreciate it all very much."

The medals presented to Trump were given to him during ceremonies conducted throughout the final months of his campaign last year. Matteo, Ford and Thomas weren't the sole veterans who posted Trump their Purple Hearts - numerous others did likewise.

Trump invited several of the veterans who had sent their Purple Medals to Trump to his campaign events so he could return the medals to their rightful owners.

The gathering Trump hosted at the White House on Thursday afternoon commemorated National Purple Heart Day, which is recognised annually on Aug. 7. At the conclusion of his address - which he appeared to read from prepared remarks, rarely deviating from them - he signed a proclamation declaring Aug. 7, 2025, National Purple Heart Day - making the observance official.

The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration still in use. It's awarded to service members who are killed or wounded whilst engaging in enemy action or who become the target of acts of terrorism.

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor houses more than 1.8 million medals awarded since the decoration's inception in 1782. Trump himself has never served in the military.

Indeed, he received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War. His initial four deferments were due to his status as a university student, while his fifth was on medical grounds - he cited purported bone spurs in his heels.