‘I had God on my side’: Trump shares ‘painful’ story of assassination attempt in mammoth RNC speech

Five days after a .22 calibre bullet came within inches of ending his life, Donald Trump recounted his brush with death, and cast himself as a triumphant hero, as he accepted his party’s presidential nomination for the third consecutive election cycle on the final day of the Republican National Convention.

The ex-president, who wore a bandage on the ear that was grazed during the attempt on his life, told the crowd of delegates and supporters on Thursday that he was “not supposed to be here” and credited his presence on the stage in Wisconsin to “the grace of almighty God.”

As photographs of that day were displayed on a bank of screens behind him, Trump claimed rallygoers had believed him dead after his Secret Service detail rushed the stage, and told the convention audience that the photo of him raising a fist as he exhorted his supporters to “fight” came out of a desire to reassure them that he was still alive.

The ex-president also said he would spend the remainder of his life “grateful” for “​​the love shown by that giant audience of patriots” who’d been there in Pennsylvania last weekend, including the two supporters who were left wounded by the gunman, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, and Buffalo Township fire chief Corey Comperatore, who died.

Almost all of the Trump family joined the former president. Former first lady Melania Trumo, who had been absent throughout the majority of the convention, also appeared alongside him at the end of the convention in a rare appearance.

“On this journey, I’m deeply honored to be joined by my amazing wife Melania,” he said, praising the letter she sent out calling for national unity.

After asking the crowd for a moment of silence, Trump said his “resolve” was “unbroken”