The 'Bulletproof' Chart That Saved Trump's Life: An Inside Look

Pat McIlheran, the creator of the immigration chart credited with potentially saving former President Trump's life during an assassination attempt, discusses its significance and the providence that guided Trump's timely glance at it.

Patrick McIlheran, the man behind the infamous immigration chart that former President Trump believes saved his life during a recent assassination attempt, attributes the incident to divine intervention. The chart, which tracks border patrol apprehensions, had been prominently displayed during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire, narrowly missing Trump. The bullet instead grazed his right ear.

The 'Bulletproof' Chart That Saved Trump's Life: An Inside Look

McIlheran, who worked as the director of policy for Senator Ron Johnson, created the chart over a decade ago. Johnson's office still uses it to monitor border security, and McIlheran credits the former president for recognizing its importance.

In an interview, McIlheran recounted the moment he realized Trump had referenced his chart during the assassination attempt. "You're seeing the stills as he was turned, and you realize, holy buckets – that's Ron Johnson's graph," he said.

The 'Bulletproof' Chart That Saved Trump's Life: An Inside Look

At the Republican National Convention, Trump referred to the chart as the "chart that saved my life." He highlighted the decline in illegal crossings under his administration and the subsequent increase since.

McIlheran believes the chart's visibility helped save Trump's life. "Everybody's looking at that graph," he said. "If it happens by a twist of fate to have saved us from a terrible crisis, then all the better."

The 'Bulletproof' Chart That Saved Trump's Life: An Inside Look

McIlheran emphasized the value of Johnson's data in raising awareness about border security. "You got to think there's a lot of providence going into this, or that turn of the head, and so forth," he said. "It's important stuff, it's a key topic and, boy, you wish people would take a look at it."

The assassination attempt also highlighted the heroism of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was killed while protecting Trump. Trump paid tribute to Comperatore and two other injured men during his RNC speech.

The 'Bulletproof' Chart That Saved Trump's Life: An Inside Look

McIlheran expressed his admiration for Trump's resilience and leadership, particularly after the assassination attempt. "Ron Johnson's numbers will save your life. Keep that in mind," he said.

The chart's sudden prominence has sparked discussions about the importance of data visualization and its role in decision-making. McIlheran believes the incident will serve as a reminder of the power of visual presentations.

Despite the harrowing experience, McIlheran finds solace in the belief that Trump's life was spared for a reason. "I'm glad about that. Senator Johnson's numbers deserve attention," he said. "All the better that it happened to save us from a terrible crisis."