Donald Trump has sparked widespread outrage after making a three-word joke about his assassination attempt, drawing criticism from many.
President Donald Trump has ignited controversy after making a lighthearted comment about the assassination attempt on his life last year.
The brief joke, delivered during a private event, has provoked strong reactions across social media and from the public.
The Trump assassination attempt that shook the nation
In July 2024, Donald Trump was targeted in a violent attack during his presidential campaign.
While speaking at an outdoor rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, a 20-year-old gunman named Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle from a nearby rooftop.
Several shots were fired, with one striking Trump’s right ear.
Tragically, one person in the crowd was killed, and two others suffered serious injuries.
The attacker was immediately neutralized when a member of the US Secret Service fatally shot him at the scene.
The incident left a deep impact on Trump, his family, and his supporters, casting a long shadow over the 2024 election season.
Melania Trump reflects on family trauma
In the months following the shooting, Melania Trump opened up about how the ordeal affected her and her family.
During an interview with Fox News, she described a constant sense of fear and uncertainty.
Melania revealed she often asked herself, “What’s next?” after every new threat or event, living in a state of heightened anxiety.
“In one way, you’re not surprised, and with every event that happened, I kept thinking, ‘What’s next? What are they trying to do?’. You always fear the worst, and then it happened.”
Trump faces backlash over controversial three-word joke regarding his assassination attempt
Despite the event’s gravity, Trump joked about the incident during a private crypto dinner at his Virginia golf club on May 22, 2025.
After introducing his new meme coin called $TRUMP, he reportedly quipped to the audience about the pre-election period: “Did you know that just before the election, they went all crypto? You know that, right?”
A sudden thump echoed through the room, and Trump responded with a smirk, placing his hand to his ear and saying, “Whoops. My ear!”
Although attendees reportedly found the comment amusing, the joke quickly spread on social media, igniting a wave of backlash.
Public outrage over Trump’s insensitive remarks
Online platforms exploded with criticism after the video clip circulated widely.
Many viewers condemned Trump for making light of a serious and traumatic event.
One social media user warned: Don’t forget about the spectator who died.
The second user wrote: You shouldn’t be joking about that.
The third user commented: Yeah, it’s so obvious he wasn’t shot but others.
Someone added: It claimed the life of one of his supporters… but his ear. This didn’t go as he planned.
Another user claimed: The most disgusting display anyone has done this year.
Multiple threats target Trump last year
The assassination attempt was not an isolated incident.
Weeks after the shooting, authorities arrested a man at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida who was found in possession of an AK-47-style weapon.
Despite the backlash, Trump has remained defiant about his remarks.
During his inauguration speech in January 2025, he told attendees at the Capitol Rotunda, “I was saved by God to make America great again.”
His words reaffirmed his belief that he survived these attacks for a greater purpose.