FACT CHECK: Image Of Trump’s Ear Intact Predates Rally Shooting

Christine Sellers | Fact Check Reporter

An image shared on Threads purports to show 2024 Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump’s ear intact following the shooting at his July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

 

Post by @hpsc24
View on Threads

 

Verdict: False

The claim is false. The image, which was originally uploaded to Getty Images, shows a photo of Trump from 2017. In addition, a Trump spokesperson denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

In a recent TRUTH Social post, Trump said he will continue to hold outdoor rallies following the shooting that occurred at his July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to The Hill. Trump also said the U.S. Secret Service will provide increased protection at his rallies via the same post, the outlet reported.

The Threads image, which has received over 900 likes as of writing, purports to show Trump’s ear in tact following the shooting that occurred at his July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. “Huge relief to see that President Trump’s ear has grown back. I’m on holiday and have got mosquito bites that are taking longer to heal but I don’t have a daily meeting with God,” text included above the image reads. In the image, Trump’s ear appears to have healed perfectly.

The claim is false. The image, which was originally uploaded to Getty Images, shows a photo of Trump from 2017. “President Donald Trump talks with new Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar during a telephone call in the Oval Office of the White House of the White House in Washington, DC on Tuesday, June 27, 2017,” the image’s caption reads.

Likewise, Trump has been spotted wearing bandages on his ear following the shooting at both the 2024 Republican National Convention, according to Business Insider, and a recent campaign rally in Michigan, where he opted for a “smaller, flesh-colored one,” according to the Daily Beast. In addition, Trump announced he’d removed the “last bandage” from his ear during The Believer’s Summit, a faith-based event hosted by Turning Point USA in West Palm Beach, Florida, Fox News reported on July 26. (RELATED: No, Photos Do Not Show Donald Trump And Secret Service Agents Smiling After Attempted Assassination)

Furthermore, Lead Stories reported the claim was false on July 26. Trump has not referenced the claim via his official website or his TRUTH Social account. Check Your Fact also did not find any credible news reports to support the claim.

Trump’s right ear was struck by a bullet during the shooting, according to Axios.

Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesperson, denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

“This is par for the course for Kamala Harris and her supporters– they don’t want to believe an assassination attempt was made on President Trump’s life, so they peddle lies and manipulated pictures and media to satisfy their warped reality,” Cheung said.

Christine Sellers

Fact Check Reporter

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