WWE Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura sparked controversy this week after suggesting President Donald Trump may have faked the 2024 assassination attempt that left his ear grazed by a bullet during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During an appearance on the March 24 episode of “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Ventura made the explosive claim while discussing several political topics with host Piers Morgan. The former Navy special operations veteran drew on his wrestling background to question the authenticity of Trump’s injury from the July 2024 shooting.
When Morgan defended Trump’s response to being shot, noting his defiant “Fight, fight, fight!” declaration as Secret Service agents rushed him from the stage, Ventura fired back with skepticism rooted in his wrestling days.
“You ever hear of a blade job?” Ventura asked, referring to a professional wrestling tactic where performers deliberately cut themselves during matches to create the illusion of injury. “Where’s his scar today?”
Morgan responded incredulously, reminding Ventura that 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore died shielding his family during the attack, while two other rallygoers suffered critical injuries. But Ventura remained unconvinced about Trump’s heroic status, declaring, “Well, then he accomplished what he wanted out of you guys.”
The July 13, 2024, shooting saw 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fire eight rounds from an AR-15–style rifle from a nearby rooftop. A bullet grazed Trump’s upper right ear before Secret Service counter-snipers killed Crooks. The incident prompted the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and remains the agency’s most significant security failure since the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981. The FBI has yet to determine Crooks’ motive.
Ventura served in the Navy from 1969 to 1975, graduating from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and serving with Underwater Demolition Team 12 while on active duty. He was later assigned to SEAL Team One as a reservist and earned the Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal for his service.
The exchange represents Ventura’s latest salvo against the Trump administration. The former governor has been outspoken against the administration’s immigration policies and has repeatedly criticized Trump’s Vietnam-era draft deferments.
During the same interview, Ventura issued a direct challenge regarding the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which began February 28, 2026, when surprise airstrikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The conflict has claimed American military lives and prompted Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.
Ventura called for Trump’s son, Barron Trump, who just turned 20 on March 20, to enlist in the military. “How can you send somebody else’s kids to a war if you won’t send your own?” Ventura demanded. The Daily Beast reported that Ventura slammed Trump as a “draft-dodging coward” and pointed out that no Trump family member has ever served in uniform.
Barron, who is attending New York University’s Stern School of Business, would be of draft age if a draft were authorized by Congress. None of Trump’s five children have served in the military.
Ventura’s comments come as he mulls his own political future in Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz ended his reelection bid on January 5, 2026, amid criticism over his handling of fraud allegations in state programs. Three weeks later, Senator Amy Klobuchar announced she was entering the gubernatorial race, winning 72% support in the DFL party straw poll on February 3.
Ventura has expressed interest in the 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election, telling interviewers he “only did one term” and was “owed a second.” If Klobuchar wins the governorship, she would vacate her Senate seat, potentially creating an opening Ventura could pursue. The former governor has suggested that Minnesota would need a new senator if Klobuchar becomes governor.
The controversial claims about the assassination attempt represent one of Ventura’s boldest statements yet against the current administration. While the Butler shooting investigation continues—with the FBI still unable to determine Crooks’ motive—Ventura’s wrestling-inspired skepticism has drawn fierce criticism from Trump supporters who view it as an insult to Comperatore’s memory and the other victims.
As Ventura weighs his political options for challenging Trump’s policies at either the state or federal level, his willingness to make incendiary accusations signals a confrontational campaign style should he decide to run. His military background and experience as both a professional wrestler and elected official give him a unique platform to attack the Trump administration from multiple angles—though his conspiracy theory about the Butler shooting may ultimately undermine his credibility with voters who witnessed Trump bleeding on that Pennsylvania stage.