Counter-terrorism expert explains Trump’s controversial reaction to being shot amid major conspiracy theory

A counter-terrorism expert has explained the reasoning behind Donald Trump’s controversial reaction to being shot at last year during his terrifying assassination attempt.

For those who need a reminder, the US President, 79, was attending an open-air campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024 when a 20-year-old man fired eight rounds at him from AR-15-style rifle from the roof of a nearby building.

Trump obtained a minor wound on his ear at the hands of Thomas Matthew Crooks, whose aim tragically killed one audience member and critically injured two others.

Crooks was shot and killed shortly afterwards by the Counter Sniper Team of the US Secret Service.

Since then, wild conspiracy theories have circulated around the internet, with some internet sleuths even claiming the assassination attempt was completely fabricated.

Tyla spoked to counter-terrorism and security expert Will Geddes about Trump's assassination attempt (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Social media users have recently compared recent images of Trump’s ear with before‑attack photos, arguing that there seems to be no lasting damage and claiming that 'ear cartilage generally does NOT regrow'.

Another reason the conspiracists cling to and always seem to cite is the Republican leader’s unusual reaction to the bullets being fired his way.

Upon being hit with the bullet that grazed his right ear, Trump shocked the world by choosing not to duck and take cover in what could have been a life-threatening situation.

Instead, he faced towards the direction of where the shot came from and raised his right fist in the air with triumph after surviving the attempt on his life.

The US President took a graze to the ear when he was shot at (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Giving his verdict on the confusing reaction, security expert Will Geddes explained to Tyla: “One thing I can definitely say is, having seen people get shot at on more than one occasion, is that everybody behaves in a very different way.”

He continued: “It's fight or flight. And not knowing Donald Trump, personally, I couldn't give you a proper psychological evaluation and say, ‘Yeah, he's the kind of guy who would actually just go, You know what? I'm going to push through, and I'm going to punch through and I'm not going to let this defeat me’.

"You've got to look at the level of injury that he sustained as well, and also what happens in these types of events - the first of which is your adrenaline goes into overdrive."

He added that just because Trump rose above his Secret Service and punched the sky in a very defiant manner, it doesn't mean it wasn't a big deal.

The attempt on Trump's life took place in July of 2024 (Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker)

Will said: "How the Secret Service managed him in that situation, just showed the incompetence of the team that were actually on him, which then prevails through in a broader sense, as to the security management of that actual event.

"Because if you're a really experienced team, he wouldn't have been able to get back up again. If he was one of my principals and he'd been shot at, he would have been covered and moved as quickly as possible.

"You know, take them off the X."

Will resolved that there were 'so many failings' which took place during that fateful day, concluding: "I would say that was more down to incompetence than a deliberate consideration."

Interview conducted by Rhiannon Ingle.