Trump fans wear ear patches at party convention in solidarity

Delegates show their support for the former president by using “paper bandages.”

Donald Trump has set a strange trend with the large white patch on his right ear that he is wearing after he was attacked by an assassin over the weekend.

At the Republican convention in Milwaukee, some of his supporters also taped their ears to show solidarity with the 78-year-old. The delegates didn’t need a real plaster cast to do it: Many folded a piece of paper so it could be taped to their ears — and secured with a piece of tape.

Arizona Rep. Joe Neglia said he wanted to honor Trump. “It was the least I could do for President Trump!” said Rep. Stacey Goodman, holding a sticker to her right ear.

Trump’s speech at the party convention was announced on Thursday evening (local time), and has been eagerly awaited. The former president had previously told the New York Post that the speech was originally planned to be “aggressive.” After the assassination attempt, he wanted to try to unite the country instead.

New details about the attack

Meanwhile, new findings from the investigation into the attack are adding to the pressure on law enforcement. An hour before the shooter opened fire on Trump, local security guards apparently identified the attacker in the crowd as suspicious — a “young man who was acting strangely” like them. The New York Times mentioned.

The Secret Service, which protects Trump, was also notified. But the suspect was soon lost. At least two law enforcement officers were called in to help with the search.

About 20 minutes before the shooting, a sniper spotted the killer on a rooftop, the newspaper said. Why the rally continued and Trump took the stage is one of many open questions for the Secret Service, the newspaper reported, citing members of Congress who have been previously briefed by law enforcement officials on the status of the investigation.

Wyoming Senator John Barrasso wrote on X that the suspect had a backpack and a rangefinder with him.

The killer was killed 26 seconds after the first shot.

ABC News reported that the shooter was killed 26 seconds after being shot. Before the crime, he had been searching his cell phone for Trump's appearance date, as well as photos of Trump and US President Joe Biden, among other things. CBS News said the shooter had visited the location at least once before.