A counter-terrorism expert has addressed claims circling the internet that US President Donald Trump 'faked' his assassination attempt as internet sleuths were utterly convinced they spotted a 'major clue'.
Following the assassination attempt last year (13 July 2024), social media users compared recent images of Trump’s ear with before‑attack photos, arguing that the cartilage shows no lasting damage and claiming that 'ear cartilage generally does NOT regrow'.
However, counterclaims noted that the initial wound was minor was treated by top plastic surgeons - hence the quick recovery.
Those claiming the shooting was staged have pointed to the unblemished ear as alleged evidence of a 'scam' intended to gain sympathy and boost political support - something which an expert in the field has now shared his expertise on.
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Why would Donald Trump would 'fake' his assassination attempt?
Addressing such claims, counter-terrorism expert, Will Geddes, told Tyla you need to ask one particular question before going down the 'rabbit-hole' of the conspiracy theory - namely: "What is going to be achieved by faking an assassination?"
"I can see why people will turn around and say [the assassination attempt] was a conspiracy theory because it could gain significant publicity for him, positive publicity, because, obviously he survived it," the expert explained.
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He also noted that Trump is perceived as 'a very divisive person', adding that an assassination attempt could possibly convert people who would normally be opposed to him or not in alignment with his agenda to think, 'Oh yeah, because he's been shot at. He's the guy that we want'.
"You could certainly see it compelling his already supporters to go, 'Yes, this is the guy we want, and these are the evil liberals or the left who want to take him out'," Will continued.
However, he outlines that 'it's quite a complex situation as to why it would benefit him now'.
While admitting that there haven't been many fake assassination attempts because 'they’re very difficult to pull off', Will did note: "Firstly, any assassination, genuine or otherwise, would more likely happen in a very publicly viewed, televised event because whatever they're looking to achieve would be to garnish as much publicity as well."
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The Secret Service's 'incompetent' response to Donald Trump's assassination attempt
Will explains that both local police and the Secret Service were absolutely 'vilified' following their handling of the situation.
"There were so many ambiguities in the security coverage that me, as a security professional, looks at and goes, 'What the hell, this was so badly managed'," he said, before acknowledging: "But it's not a massive escape from reality, the fact that, sometimes, these things happen."
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Donald Trump's controversial response to his assassination attempt
Upon being hit with the bullet grazing his right ear, Trump shocked audiences with his reaction of not ducking and taking cover in what could have been a life-threatening situation but by facing towards the direction of the where the shot came from and raising his right fist in the air with triumph after surviving the attempt on his life.
Shedding some light on Trump's understandably confusing reaction, Will explained: "One thing I can definitely say is, having seen people get shot at on more than one occasion, is everybody behaves in a very different way. It's fight or flight."
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He continued: "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."
Noting that 'it's not as clear cut' to simply conclude that, because he rose above his Secret Service and punched the sky in a very defiant manner, it necessarily means, it wasn't a big deal.
"How the Secret Service managed him in that situation, just showed the incompetency of the team that were actually on him," Will hit out, "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."
The shooter in question was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who shot at Trump with an AR-15-style rifle.
Crooks was shot and killed by a member of the US Secret Service, who also rushed to protect Trump.
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, Tyla Exclusive
Rhiannon Ingle