Just hours ago, we had breaking news out of Butler, Pennsylvania, where former President Donald Trump appeared to have been the victim of an attempted assassination. He was grazed by bullet near his left ear but is safe and recovering. Authorities have confirmed the shooter is dead, as is one of the attendees of Trump’s rally.
All of this has me thinking about President Trump. He is 78 years old, independently wealthy, though they’re trying to stop that too. Even before tonight he has been through the wringer for this country over the past eight or nine years.
He was the host of the number one television program in America. The Apprentice was crushing it, and he was the reason. As soon as they tried to use another host it went down the tubes. He could have just stayed doing that. He was beloved. He wasn’t as controversial.
He didn’t have to get into politics, but he did. And he has stayed in politics. He has been president and now he is running again. Like, who would do such a thing? Just go back to your private life, and your beautiful wife, and your children, and your grandchildren, and your golf courses.
Why put yourself through this? Why continue engaging with these people hate you, and want to destroy you, and you know it? That was the final question of my interview with Trump in September.
I believe Donald Trump genuinely loves his country – not just himself, as his detractors say. I believe that is why he is running again despite all the things that have happened to him. He doesn’t deserve what the left has done to him and he certainly didn’t deserve what happened to him today.
And the people who love him and saw the magic in his message and persona and responded to the way he made them feel – which was seen and heard for the first time in decades – knew in their gut that this guy was different. That is why they shocked the world in November 2016 and put him in office and have remained loyal to him ever since. Is he a perfect man? No. Was he a perfect president? No. Is he guilty of rhetoric that can be so controversial? Of course. We know these things about President Trump.
But he is a special man. There are not a lot of guys like this, not a lot of human beings like this with that kind of strength and resilience and ability – literally under fire – to stand up and say, ‘Fight.’ It was inspirational.
I believe President Trump is going to win in November. I previously disclosed he will have my vote. I am now one of the people who will walk over broken glass to make sure I cast my vote. And I know it won’t be alone.
I think now you are going to see formerly blue states rush to pull the lever for Donald Trump. I thought it was bad before tonight, and I think my fellow Americans will understand how important it is to send a message loud and clear to the people who want to change our country that we won’t allow it; that we are not going to lose sight of one another; that we are not going to continue trying to ruin each other, end each other. That is not how we want to live, and we will find our way back to one another.
Tens of thousands of people showed up tonight in Butler, Pennsylvania, to show their support for a presidential candidate and some maybe just to listen to him. They showed up for a rally and they ran for their lives instead.
And after Mr. Trump was removed in ‘The Beast’ and two of his most ardent fans were shot dead or within an inch of their life, the American flag still waved. The remnants at the site scattered the ground. And yet much like 9/11, after it was all over, the American flag still waved over the now empty area.
That is what it is all about. Our flag was still there. We are still with each other. I said this on July 4: We are so lucky to have been born in this country. We hit the lottery. Our patriotism must be reignited and, yes, our understanding that there is humanity on both sides. The hard partisan loons who have been behind the rhetoric we have discussed tonight do not represent either side. There is room for reconnection.
But I’ll tell you what: President Trump needs to win this election. Period.
It’s not about him anymore. It’s about us. So, I hope you’ll vote, I hope you’ll vote Republican, and I hope you’ll say a prayer for President Trump and his family and, indeed, for President Biden and our elected leaders.
Thank you for being with me tonight. God bless you, and God bless America.
You can check out Megyn’s full analysis by tuning in to episode 837 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.