Craig Greenberg, mayor of Kentucky's largest city, appeared on CNN Thursday to discuss the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump and his own experience with gun violence while running for political office.
Greenberg was interviewed by anchor Laura Coates, who asked how his experience of being shot at changed him. Greenberg was targeted inside his downtown campaign office in February 2022 while running to become mayor of Louisville. While not injured, the bullet came close enough that it grazed his sweater and left a mark.
"It definitely changed me ... just as I'm sure experiencing gun violence changes everyone who is at the wrong end of a gun," Greenberg told Coates.
The experience, he continued, gave him a stronger resolve than before "to try to work to end this gun violence that continues to plague our country. Whether it's in politics or whether in any part of life, gun violence has no place in America."
The interview comes five days after Trump was injured in his ear by a bullet while giving a speech in Butler, Pennsylvania — about 25 miles north of Pittsburgh. While Trump was not seriously injured, Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed and two others seriously injured — 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver. Both are in stable condition, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.
The shooter was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who was shot and killed by Secret Service.
Greenberg, who quickly denounced the attack, said Thursday he hopes it can serve as a wake-up call for the country.
"I'm hoping maybe, finally, this attempted assassination attempt on President Trump is the wake up call that people like me continually hope for every time there's a heinous act of violence," Greenberg said.
Speaking to the division within the country on many hot-button issues, Greenberg said the attack on Trump shows "the temperature needs to be lowered."
Contact Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com.
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