Trump Appears at RNC with Bandaged Ear — Iconic Image Becomes Campaign Symbol (2024-07-15)

Three days after the Butler shooting, Trump appears at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee with a white bandage over his right ear, to a prolonged standing ovation and chants of "Fight! Fight! Fight!" — echoing his fist-pump and shouted words immediately after being shot. The image of Trump with a bandaged ear, raised fist, and blood on his face becomes the most iconic campaign image in modern American history, reproduced on merchandise, posters, and digital content worldwide. The RNC is transformed into a coronation, with speakers invoking divine protection and framing Trump's survival as providential.