Assassination in Pennsylvania - The New York Times published photos: Do they show the ball that was supposed to hit Trump?
Suddenly, Donald Trump puts his bloody ear to the ground and falls: New York Times Photographer Doug Mills witnessed the shooting of the Republican at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, up close – and captured it with his camera. The photographer, who has portrayed presidents for the US newspaper since 1983, was among the few photojournalists who were just a few steps away from Trump's podium when the shots were fired.
He first thought the sudden loud noises were from a car and not from shots, Mills told the newspaper. "I kept taking photos. He (Trump) went behind the podium to the ground, and I thought, 'oh my god, something has happened'." He switched positions to get a better view of Trump and continued photographing him. "The way he looked in that one picture with his fist, very fierce, and then in my next shot, he looked completely drained. Extremely, extremely shocked."
During over 35 years of photojournalism covering US presidents, he had always wondered what he would do in such a situation, Mills reported further. "I kept asking myself what I would do in this situation. I hope I get the right shot. I hope I don't get shot myself."
Photographer may have captured potentially damning photo
According to the "New York Times," Mills likely captured the projectile in a rapid photo sequence in one of the shots. The newspaper published the images showing Trump at the moment of the shooting while speaking at the podium. In them, Trump is seen gesticulating while speaking, then reaching his hand to his ear, where blood is visible.
In one of the high-angled shots right before it, a gray streak is visible. According to retired FBI agent Michael Harrigan, whom the newspaper consulted as an expert, it is quite possible that it is the displacement of air caused by one of the bullets fired at Trump. "The angle looks a bit shallow to have gone through his ear, but not impossible if the shooter fired multiple shots."
After sharing the potentially damning photos, some Republican allies of Donald Trump questioned the timing and motivations of the New York Times, believing it could negatively impact Trump's re-election campaign in Pennsylvania.
Subsequently, a group of Trump supporters suggested an assassination conspiracy theory, claiming that the photos were staged to tarnish Trump's image and benefit his Democratic opponent in the upcoming elections.
