In a chilling firsthand account, BBC senior US correspondent Gary O’Donoghue shares his experience of the horrifying moment when an assassin’s bullet struck Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attack on the former president sent shockwaves across a deeply divided nation, exposing glaring security lapses and raising fears of escalating political violence as America hurtles towards a contentious 2024 presidential election.
“I Knew Those Were Gunshots”
Recounting the heart-stopping moment, O’Donoghue reveals, “I knew immediately that those were gunshots, and then suddenly realised Trump had stopped talking. That’s the ‘Oh shit!’ moment.” Amid the ensuing chaos and screams, the veteran journalist, who is blind, focused on gathering critical details.
“Your mind is working at a million miles an hour,” O’Donoghue explains. “You have no idea whether it’s over or not, and then you hear the screaming start and you think, we’re in a pretty exposed position.” Despite the danger, he managed to secure a vital interview with eyewitness Greg Smith, whose consistent account helped piece together the shocking sequence of events.
Exposing Astonishing Security Failures
O’Donoghue’s gripping report laid bare the astonishing security lapses that allowed an armed assailant to breach the former president’s protective bubble. The attack has raised urgent questions about the Secret Service’s protocols and preparedness, especially given Trump’s controversial and divisive persona.
It was an unbelievable lapse. The idea that a guy could get that close and fire shots shows a huge, catastrophic failure somewhere.
Security expert, speaking on condition of anonymity
A Nation on the Brink
The attempt on Trump’s life has further inflamed America’s already overheated political climate. A recent poll found that a staggering one in four Americans fears the country is headed for civil war after the 2024 election. O’Donoghue, who has covered US politics for over two decades, laments the entrenched divides tearing at the nation’s fabric.
“The idea of America is under enormous strain,” he warns. “The divides are everywhere – between the coasts and the centre, the north and the south, the urban and the rural, the religious and the unreligious. They are so entrenched that there is very little crossover communication, very little empathy.”
Swing States Hold the Key
As the 2024 race heats up, all eyes are on crucial battlegrounds like Michigan, where voters are grappling with a choice many frame as “the lesser of two evils.” O’Donoghue notes that when people use that phrase, “they’re usually voting Trump.” The BBC correspondent will be covering election night from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago headquarters, but he’s hesitant to predict the outcome.
We always laugh when people ask us this. I have no idea. It’s a cliche but it really is decided in these swing states.
Gary O’Donoghue
A Journalist’s Resilience
For O’Donoghue, who lost his sight at age eight, covering such momentous and often traumatic events requires immense resilience. He credits his boarding school education for instilling the strength to overcome daily challenges and prejudices. “It was actually the best thing that ever happened to me,” he reflects.
Now, as America stands at a crossroads, O’Donoghue remains committed to delivering clear-eyed, unflinching reporting on the forces shaping the nation’s future. The assassination attempt on Donald Trump serves as a chilling reminder of just how high the stakes have become.
Do I think there could be civil war? I don’t but you’d be a fool to rule out violence. I mean, we’ve already had violence, haven’t we?
Gary O’Donoghue
As the 2024 election looms, one thing is certain: the eyes of the world will be watching, and courageous journalists like Gary O’Donoghue will be there to bear witness, no matter the risks.
