Did Donald Trump really say ‘I like presidents who didn’t get shot’ in July 2015?

A post shared on TikTok claims former President Donald Trump said, “I like Presidents who didn’t get shot” in July 2015.  

Verdict: False

This post misquotes a genuine statement made by Trump in July 2015. Trump originally said, “I like people who weren’t captured.” 

Fact Check: 

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating how a gunman was able to access a nearby roof during a Trump rally last weekend, shooting and injuring the former president, according to AP News. The gunman was killed by Secret Service personnel, the outlet reported.

A TikTok video shows an image of the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain with overlaid text that reads, “‘I like Presidents who didn’t get shot.’ -Donald Trump, July 18, 2015.” The video plays the song “American Idiot” by Green Day.

This is not a genuine Trump quote, however. The alleged statement cannot be found on his X, Facebook or Instagram accounts. This could not have appeared on his Truth Social account, as the platform wasn’t launched until early 2022, according to AP News. (RELATED: Fact-Checking Trump’s Claim That VP Harris Has Never Gone To The Border)

The post attributes the alleged quote to July 18, 2015. On that day, he said of McCain, “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured,” according to Politico. McCain spent over five years in a North Vietnamese prison where he faced torture and solitary confinement, the outlet reported. 

Check Your Fact reached out to a Trump spokesperson for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.