Trump credits ‘illegal immigration’ chart on screen at rally with saving his life

Former President Donald Trump credited a chart on illegal immigration levels that was on display at his recent rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, with saving his life after he was shot last Saturday.

In a lengthy speech to the Republican National Convention as he accepted the GOP’s nomination Thursday evening, Trump touted that both the chart on a nearby screen, as well as a divine power, spared his life that day.

“Last time I put up that chart, I didn’t really get to look at it,” Trump told the crowd in Milwaukee, prompting laughter. “Without that chart, I would not be here today.”

Trump had turned his head slightly to look at figures on screen while speaking to rallygoers on Saturday, July 13, when a gunman opened fire on the former president from a nearby rooftop. He also thanked God during the speech Thursday for sparing his life just days earlier.

“I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God,” Trump said.

Trump sustained an injury to his right ear, and sported a bandage each night he appeared at the convention.

The acceptance speech touted the policies that a second Trump administration would implement, including to build more border wall, crack down on crime within the United States, and deport more illegal immigrants than any previous administration.

Trump touted numerous times throughout his speech that the border and immigration would be a top priority, if elected. Illegal immigration by way of the U.S.-Mexico border has surged to record-high levels since President Joe Biden took office.

However, the monthly number of illegal immigrant arrests has begun to drop as the Biden administration employs new executive actions meant to deter migrants from traveling to the U.S. Last month, more than 83,000 illegal immigrants were arrested, down from nearly 250,000 in December 2023.