Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Aug 19: US President Donald Trump surprised world leaders by displaying a painting of the assassination attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, during a closed-door multilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European counterparts at the White House.

“That was not a great day,” Trump remarked as he pointed to the artwork, which depicts the July 13, 2024, shooting incident in which he narrowly escaped death. The attack left Trump with a grazed ear wound, while rally attendee Corey Comperatore was killed when 20-year-old gunman Michael Thomas Crooks opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle.

The defiant image of Trump raising his fist moments after the attack became an enduring political symbol, boosting his campaign momentum and influencing Joe Biden’s decision to step out of the presidential race. The painting now hangs on the White House State Floor, near the staircase leading to the presidential residence.

Traditionally, portraits of recent US presidents are displayed at the main entrance of the executive mansion, visible to guests at official functions. But the Butler attack painting has been given a prominent place, underlining its symbolic importance.

The meeting, held after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was attended by Zelenskyy, British prime minister Keir Starmer, Finnish president Alexander Stubb, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO secretary general Mark Ruttle, French president Emmanuel Macron, and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni. The leaders posed for a group photo, during which Trump drew attention to the painting.