A Vietnam War veteran named Dwight was deeply moved by Donald Trump’s reaction to an assassination attempt in Butler, Pa., and decided to give his Purple Heart to the former president as a token of his admiration. Dwight appeared at a town hall event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, alongside Trump and presented him with the Purple Heart in an envelope. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna read a letter written by Dwight to Trump expressing his support and thanking the former president for his resilience during the incident in Butler.
In the letter, Dwight mentioned that both he and his wife were relieved and emotional watching Trump get back up after the assassination attempt. He expressed his admiration for Trump and his resilience, stating that he and his wife thought it appropriate to offer the Purple Heart as a symbol of their respect. Trump jokingly remarked upon inspecting the envelope that it seemed like a check, but Luna clarified that it contained Dwight’s Purple Heart, a prestigious award given to service members wounded or killed in enemy action. Dwight reiterated his belief that Trump was deserving of the Purple Heart for his bravery during the attack in Butler.
During the town hall event, Trump recalled the assassination attempt in Butler where he was injured by a gunman who was later shot and killed by Secret Service. Dwight praised Trump for his bravery during the incident, noting that the former president showed great courage in the face of danger. Trump humbly expressed gratitude for his recovery from the minor injury, suggesting that perhaps there was a higher power at play in ensuring his safety. Dwight also mentioned that Trump had written him a beautiful letter in response and gifted him a challenge coin, which he found to be unexpected coming from the President of the United States.
Trump, who is returning to Butler for the first time since the assassination attempt, expressed his appreciation for receiving Dwight’s Purple Heart, calling it a great honor. During the event, he criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for what he described as a lousy federal response to Hurricane Helene. Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with the treatment of storm-affected residents in North Carolina and pledged to make it known that improvements were needed in disaster response efforts. Luna added that the Harris-Biden administration had been slow in providing assistance to communities impacted by the hurricane, suggesting that political affiliations may have influenced the response.
Trump continued to criticize the administration’s handling of Hurricane Helene, likening it to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and accusing them of doing the worst job on a hurricane response in history. He expressed his frustration with what he perceived as the inadequacy of support for the affected communities and highlighted the need for better disaster response efforts. Luna echoed Trump’s sentiments about the lack of assistance provided to red communities impacted by the hurricane, implying that political factors may be influencing the distribution of aid to those in need. Overall, the event showcased both the admiration for Trump’s resilience and bravery in the face of danger and the criticism of the current administration’s response to natural disasters.
