# How is it that Trump’s ear is still a mystery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [October 28, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361 "2025-10-28T14:33:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hideousidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/858c86/32.png) [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/1 "2025-10-28T14:33:15Z")
This is a query more about journalism than about what happened (and didn’t happen) in Trump’s most recent assassination attempt: what barriers are there to learning what happened (and didn’t happen)? I would think that a very public event would lead to all sorts of serious inquiry that would lead to some solid answers, ideally resulting in our knowing for sure what occurred (and did not occur). I would imagine that some smart investigative journalist would see that there is a market for a book on the subject, so what’s preventing him or her from discovering what exactly went down? Compared to the JFK assassination, this one seems kind of simple: the shooter’s identity is known and universally accepted, the gun has been held and examined, Trump’s ear has been on public display for over a year, but I haven’t seen (haven’t looked very hard, admittedly) a definitive report on whether Trump was actually hit by a live bullet, what the assassin was trying to accomplish, who he even was, etc. Or is there a book that I haven’t read, or heard of? Is there such a work in progress? One of the central mysteries for me is why hasn’t this attempt on Trump’s life been Subject A out of his ever-running mouth since it happened? Given his narcissism, I can’t conceive of him letting an attempt on his life pass with minimal comment, as it has. If he’s perpetually incensed by anyone having the gumption to oppose him politically or otherwise, as he is, how does it then happen that he’s not equally obsessed with the person who came very close (???) to gunning him down? But I can’t even remember the name of the attempted assassin at this point. The whole story has, it seems to me, been quite thoroughly suppressed, almost eradicated, from the public consciousness, and this seems rather peculiar to me. I bet there have been more books published since the event on other assassinations (JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X) than on Trump’s, despite the dearth of previously unknown facts in those cases and the plethora of facts to be revealed in Trump’s case. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/2 "2025-10-28T14:38:40Z")
I can’t answer your questions, but my two cents as someone who is very familiar with the damage that can be done with a live round: he was hit by some ricochet material, probably wood. A live 5.56 round, even a nick, would have caused catastrophic damage to his ear, which is clearly not the case. ---
**Author:** ![hideousidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/858c86/32.png) [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/3 "2025-10-28T14:47:43Z")
So I’ve heard. this seems to me one of the few areas of factual verification concerning Trump’s lies and coverups that is mostly public or semi-public. I haven’t seen any interviews of the personnel who supposedly treated Trump for damage to his ear. Or even interviews with doctors who didn’t treat Trump but who have treated gunshot victims. Seems like a book I would read, if some journallist would take the trouble to write one. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/4 "2025-10-28T15:06:38Z")
> [@hideousidiot](#): > > I would imagine that some smart investigative journalist would see that there is a market for a book on the subject, so what’s preventing him or her from discovering what exactly went down? This is the one I have heard of: > **[Butler](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/salena-zito/butler/9781546009146/)** > > THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERUSA TODAY AND PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER"Salena Zito…. She understands you people and me better than we do.” -- Presi... I have not read the book. The author is the closest thing there is to a respectable Trumper. Reviews suggest it is more about the Trump supporters at the event than the assassination attempt technical details. Perhaps that is because there is no complex mystery. > [@hideousidiot](#): > > Given his narcissism, I can’t conceive of him letting an attempt on his life pass with minimal comment, as it has. I’ve read a bunch of his speeches. To me, he has mentioned it a fair amount. at least during the campaign. How much comment is minimal? Is Trump mentioning it less than Reagan mentioned his attempted assassination? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/5 "2025-10-28T16:00:58Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I can’t answer your questions, but my two cents as someone who is very familiar with the damage that can be done with a live round: he was hit by some ricochet material, probably wood. A live 5.56 round, even a nick, would have caused catastrophic damage to his ear, which is clearly not the case. I concur: > [@About the damage to Trump's right ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-damage-to-trumps-right-ear/1023998/46): > > My speculation based upon the scenario and post-injury images of the ear is that Donald Trump was struck in the ear by some tiny fragment of shrapnel that has struck the stands behind him—either from the copper jacket of the bullet or material from the stands—moving at subsonic speed which just sliced the surface of the edge of the ear, not doing any significant damage but drawing a few drops of blood that then streamed across his face, making it appear more serious than it actually was. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/6 "2025-10-28T16:29:21Z")
> [@hideousidiot](#): > > The whole story has, it seems to me, been quite thoroughly suppressed, almost eradicated, from the public consciousness Suppressed by who and how? I keep seeing cringeworthy social media references to the assassination attempt being staged - something commonly associated with Alex Jones types, but in this case seemingly emanating from anti-Trumpers. Uncalled-for and embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/7 "2025-10-28T18:52:39Z")
That had to be one fine slice. I can’t believe Time would touch up his ear on the x-rated cover if it showed damage. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/8 "2025-10-28T19:04:18Z")
FNI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress that Trump was either hit by a bullet or bullet fragments by a ricochet. It seems clear that there was no direct shot “through the ear” as insisted by right wing propaganda. Rather, if the bullet hit, it may have been a graze, as there is no lasting damage. > **[FBI confirms that a bullet struck Trump's ear during assassination attempt](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna163896)** > > In congressional testimony this week, FBI Director Christopher Wray had said "there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel" that hit the former president. > “What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle," the FBI said in a statement. > The statement comes two days after FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom [Trump nominated](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/christopher-wray-trump-nominate-former-assistant-ag-fbi-director-n769136)to his post in 2017, [told House lawmakers](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/republicans-rip-fbi-directors-testimony-trump-might-not-hit-bullet-rcna163653) that “there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that, you know, hit his ear.” Republicans were pissed at that testimony by the way. Anything less than Trump being shot through the ear is heresy. > The director’s remarks before a House committee sparked widespread backlash among Republican lawmakers, as well as Trump, who has consistently said he was hit by a bullet. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/9 "2025-10-28T19:19:44Z")
> [@](#): > > The director’s remarks before a House committee sparked widespread backlash among Republican lawmakers, as well as Trump, who has consistently said he was hit by a bullet. Maybe someone should tell Republican lawmakers to stop letting Trump gaslight them. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/10 "2025-10-29T02:02:54Z")
“The director’s remarks before a House committee sparked widespread backlash among Republican lawmakers, as well as Trump, who has consistently said he was hit by a bullet.” God, this is dumb. HTF would he know? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/11 "2025-10-29T02:08:16Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > God, this is dumb. HTF would he know? It doesn’t matter how he would (or would not) know if he was actually hit by a bullet. Wray’s testimony was contradictory to the heroic story which Trump and his supporters have now woven about that day, which makes Wray a heretic. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/12 "2025-10-29T02:31:03Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Maybe someone should tell Republican lawmakers to stop letting Trump gaslight them. They’re loving it; it absolves them from any responsibility from critical inquiry, plus it lets them draft off of his populism. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/13 "2025-10-29T13:32:47Z")
If Trump was actually hit by a bullet, it would be the closest he’s been to actual combat since his bone spurs precluded him from performing military service. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/14 "2025-10-29T13:35:20Z")
> [@hideousidiot](#): > > The whole story has, it seems to me, been quite thoroughly suppressed, almost eradicated, from the public consciousness, and this seems rather peculiar to me. Actually, it makes perfect sense since the entire episode was faked. ---
**Author:** ![irae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@irae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irae)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/15 "2025-10-29T16:30:45Z")
Either it was faked or Trunt is secretly the Wolverine… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/16 "2025-10-29T18:58:59Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Actually, it makes perfect sense since the entire episode was faked. How much was the family of Corey Comperatore (the firefighter killed by the gunshot) and the two critically injured people paid for their roles? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/17 "2025-10-29T21:44:19Z")
To answer one of the OP questions, Trump was actually hit by a bullet which grazed his ear. New York Times, 13 days later: [Speculation Swirls About What Hit Trump. An Analysis Suggests It was a Bullet](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/us/politics/trump-shooter-bullet-trajectory-ear.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xE8.cHJi.Q9v6_dfxaKJH&smid=url-share) > [@](#): > > The model and the trajectory analysis show that the bullet traveled in a straight line from the gunman to the bleachers, clipping Mr. Trump on its path. This suggests the bullet was not deflected by first striking an object that would have then sprayed Mr. Trump with debris. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/18 "2025-10-29T22:06:05Z")
> [@hideousidiot](#): > > I bet there have been more books published since the event on other assassinations (JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X) than on Trump’s, despite the dearth of previously unknown facts in those cases and the plethora of facts to be revealed in Trump’s case. This is the kind of thing that [ChatGPT.com](http://ChatGPT.com) is really good at. First ask “How many days has it been since the Butler assassination attempt?” Answer: 473. Then ask: “How many books on the assassinations of Malcolm X, John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and on the attempted Butler PA assassination of Donald Trump, had been published 473 days or less after the incident that was the focus of the book?” You will find that the book count for titles that focus on the assassination, or assassination attempt, as opposed to the entire biography of the victim, is one for Trump and zero for the rest. This is explained by changes in the book publishing industry. It used to take a lot longer to go through the editorial and manufacturing processes. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/19 "2025-10-29T22:14:49Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > This is the kind of thing that [ChatGPT.com](http://ChatGPT.com) is really good at. Given ChatGPT’s history of making shit up, no, it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361/20 "2025-10-29T22:38:46Z")
Re last post, there are mistakes in every information source. Wikipedia has a [long article on errors in Encyclopedia Britannica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Errors_in_the_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_that_have_been_corrected_in_Wikipedia). I don’t have a subscription to check, but my educated guess is that the [Britannica.com](http://Britannica.com) article on Wikipedia documents errors in Wikipedia. The OP claims that there were more books published on listed past assassinations than on the Butler attempt. I questioned that and provided evidence for my questioning. I could be wrong. Do you have evidence that I was wrong or misled? Nowadays there are many quickly created self-published books, most quite short. ChatGTP ignores those when answering the kind of question I asked. This could be a general objection if we spun off a ChatGPT thread. But in the context of addressing the book-count claim in the OP, I think this only makes my point stronger. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-it-that-trump-s-ear-is-still-a-mystery/1024361.md?page=2)