What does it matter if Trump's ear was damaged by a bullet or shrapnel?

[BobLibDem]

@Velocity

So you’re saying the FBI’s thought process goes like this:

Director, it was shrapnel.
Yes, but shrapnel doesn’t make Trump or the Republicans look as good. They need glory and drama.
So what do you want, boss?
Tell the media that it was a bullet or bullet fragment.

No, I think it went like this:
“I say it was a bullet and if you don’t say it was a bullet, when I get back in office you’re fired.”
“OK, it was a bullet.”

[carnivorousplant]

He would be fired anyway if trump was elected.

Why a fragment?
Would an intact bullet have caused more damage?

[Slithy_Tove]

But he is now blooded, and may enter Valhalla, where there will be much feasting and wenching and reciting of breakfast cereals!

[Dissonance]

@Sherrerd

@Dissonance

That it was a bullet probably matters to a part of his base, but it’s a part that isn’t going to be persuaded by evidence in any case.

Here’s the thing: given that we are in 2024, there were literally hundreds of high-quality cameras—meaning smart phones—aimed at the stage during all the seconds of this incident. If the FBI had access to all that footage they likely could recreate every trajectory of every bullet fired (including the trajectories of any fragments that resulted from any of those bullets being shattered by any impacts).

What I’m wondering is: in devotion to Their Lord Trump, would many of those videos and photos have been destroyed by the owners of those phones? Just in case they might have shown something that contradicted the glorious story of ‘Trump taking a bullet for democracy’ … ?

You cut off the rest of that statement:

@Dissonance

I’d say it’s the lunatic fringe of his base, but that term has lost all meaning when it comes to his base. There are preachers who believe that he is the literal Messiah, Christ come back to Earth.

These are people who believe TFG is the literal Christ, Son of God, divinely sent to bring about the end times. They are as insane as QAnon followers. To quote the author, Helgard Müller:

During the presidency of President Donald Trump, it became evident to me that the prophecies about the Son of Man, as predicted by Jesus in the Bible were, to a significant extent, fulfilled at the hands of Mr Trump. The Bible speaks about two different Christs-or Messiahs. Jesus, the Son of God is the one Christ, whereas the Son of Man is the other. Jesus always referred to the Son of Man in the third person. The greatest distinction or significance between the Son of Man and the Son of God (the Lamb) is their respective positions at the throne of God. There are numerous differences between the Son of God and the Son of Man, but overall, people read these scriptures and they do not realize that the Son of God (the Lamb) stands in front of the throne of God, whereas the Son of Man, is positioned on the right hand of God. Jesus spoke about two different killings in the four gospels of the New Testament. People read these scriptures and are unaware that Jesus (the Son of God) predicted his own killing in the first person, as opposed to the several prophecies that He made in respects to the Son of Man who will be crucified. The New Testament speaks about “two Kings;” Jesus, the Son of God, is the “King of the Jews,” whereas the Son of Man is the “King of Kings” who will be a world-ruler, and He will rule all the nations (the tribes) of the earth with a rod of iron. This book will explain in depth how “Donald John Trump’s” full name literally means: “The Ruler of the World, graced by Yahweh (the LORD) and a descendant of a Drummer.” Upon reading this book, the reader will be captivated when they realize how President Donald John Trump fulfilled most of the prophecies as the Son of Man. It speaks about End Time Prophecies and Biblical revelations regarding “President Donald J. Trump, the Son of Man. The Christ.”

Evidence, as you and I understand it, means absolutely nothing to them. Self-declared prophets (remember the “strike and strike and strike and strike and strike and strike” lady speaking from the pulpit?) have been claiming God would put TFG back into office with dates given from prior to Jan 6, 2021, up years afterwards. Their faith and that of their followers hasn’t diminished any more than those believing Mike Lindell was/is going to prove massive election fraud in 2020 every time the date came and nothing happened.

[Sherrerd]

@Dissonance

… Evidence, as you and I understand it, means absolutely nothing to them. Self-declared prophets (remember the “strike and strike and strike and strike and strike and strike ” lady speaking from the pulpit?) have been claiming God would put TFG back into office with dates given from prior to Jan 6, 2021, up years afterwards. …

Oh, without a doubt. My point was simply that if the Faithful were told to delete all their videos and photos from the rally incident, they would do so. Those who hypothetically would issue this order on behalf of Trump might be political operatives aware that evidence of ‘not a bullet but shrapnel’ could hurt their boy with non-fanatics. They might well believe it could lead to questions from moderates and independents that might affect voting.

But the Faithful themselves, those rally-goers hypothetically deleting photographic evidence—they would be doing so for the supposed glory of their Lord, not in order to help his political chances. They’d be doing it to demonstrate their obedient devotion–not out of any practical anxiety that photo evidence could lose Trump votes.

I do remain curious about how on the day itself the FBI (presumably) would have gathered evidence. Did they require witnesses to turn over their phones? That would have meant dozens if not hundreds of people inconvenienced–so did LE refrain from asking? (I’m not seeing anything on this online.)

[carnivorousplant]

Here is a link to a guy shooting pig ears with various ammo, all of which just made small holes.