Mills was able to capture photographic evidence of a bullet streaking towards Trump a fraction of a second before it pierced his ear.
The Times photographer’s work capturing the attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump was acclaimed by the Pulitzer Prize board. They praised the “winning sequence of photos” that depicted the moment of danger with a bullet streaking past Trump’s head during a campaign event.
Describing the image as extraordinary, the board highlighted how it froze the intense instant of risk amid the tumultuous political climate. The incident took place at a Butler campaign rally in July 2024, where Trump was targeted and injured by a gunshot to the ear.
This image just won a Pulitzer. pic.twitter.com/zeiMPcicaQ
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 5, 2025
The near-miss marked a pivotal moment that could have intensified the country’s already deep divisions, potentially sparking civil unrest. The capture of this critical event by the photographer added a significant chapter to the turbulent narrative of that memorable year.
Corey Comperatore, a retired volunteer fire chief, was attempt as he protected his wife and daughter, and two other men were seriously injured.
Trump would later say the brush with death “changed something” within him, causing him to “feel much more strongly” about God.
The image of a bullet heading towards Trump was one of a series of eight photographs at the Butler tragedy that were nominated in a series for the Pulitzer.
