Fact Check: Trump Rally Shooting Victim's Name Misspelled on Jacket Honoring Him at RNC?

Claim:

Shooting victim Corey Comperatore’s name was misspelled on a jacket brought onstage at the Republican National Convention, as former U.S. President Donald Trump honored him.

Rating:

True ( About this rating? )

Context:

According to Comperatore's fire company, the jacket was intentionally misspelled long before the RNC as there was not enough space on the uniform for all the letters.

On July 18, 2024, at the Republican National Convention, former U.S. President Donald Trump honored Corey Comperatore, a firefighter who was killed in the assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally days earlier. Also on the RNC stage alongside Trump was a firefighter jacket with Comperatore's name on it and a helmet, which Trump kissed before asking for a moment of silence.

Photographs of the moment Trump stood next to the jacket went viral, with many people online stating Comperatore's name had been misspelled. The jacket appeared to be missing an "A," so his name appeared as "Compertore."

Based on photographic and video evidence from that night, we found the jacket was indeed misspelled.

However, the misspelling was not due to an error on Trump's or the RNC's part. Trump said this was Comperatore's original firefighter jacket, brought from the Buffalo Township Fire Company where he served as fire chief. According to the fire company it had been intentionally misspelled long before as there was not enough space on the jacket for all the letters in Comperatore's name.

We thus rate this claim as "True" but with necessary context.

Photographs on Getty Images and YouTube footage of Trump's RNC speech confirmed the misspelling on the jacket.

The Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department, where Comperatore worked as a firefighter, posted a picture of his uniform on its Facebook page. The jacket carried the same misspelling.

https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloTwpFireGunBash/posts/pfbid02wLKhw95EamTRgCtYGdrUKKJZUD4AuyWpNJJvBAnrHpyApvQ1996qfdvTdzs5p2TWl

We reached out to the department to learn more about whether the spelling was intentional, and whether it was indeed Comperatore's original uniform on the stage.

The fire department confirmed to CBS News that the misspelling was intentional because there was not enough space on the coat for all the letters in his name. Trump said in his speech that Comperatore's fire department sent his helmet and outfit to the RNC.

Comperatore was fatally shot when a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump at a campaign rally a few days before the RNC. Trump's ear was struck by a bullet , and two other men were wounded in the shooting.

When paying tribute to Comperatore, Trump said , "He was incredible, he was a highly respected former fire chief. … He lost his life selflessly acting as a human shield to protect [his family] from flying bullets. He went right over the top of them and was hit. What a fine man he was."

Sources:

"Former President Donald Trump Kisses the Buffalo Township Volunteer..." Getty Images, 19 July 2024, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/former-president-donald-trump-kisses-the-buffalo-township-news-photo/2162002077. " target="blank">https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/former-president-donald-trump-kisses-the-buffalo-township-news-photo/2162002077.">https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/former-president-donald-trump-kisses-the-buffalo-township-news-photo/2162002077. Accessed 19 July 2024.

Inc, Redmond Funeral Home. "Corey Comperatore Obituary | July 13, 2024 | Freeport, PA." Corey Comperatore Obituary | July 13, 2024 | Freeport, PA, https://www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com/obituary/Corey-Comperatore . Accessed 19 July 2024.

Tanyos, Faris. Trump Pays Tribute to Pennsylvania Firefighter Killed in Rally Shooting - CBS News. 18 July 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tribute-pennsylvania-firefighter-corey-comperatore-killed-rally/. " target="blank">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tribute-pennsylvania-firefighter-corey-comperatore-killed-rally/.">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tribute-pennsylvania-firefighter-corey-comperatore-killed-rally/. Accessed 19 July 2024.

"Thousands Gather at Banquet Hall to Celebrate Life of Former Fire Chief Killed at Trump Rally." AP News, 18 July 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-fatal-shooting-corey-comperatore-8c09711e88a56432424ef3f980321ed2. " target="blank">https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-fatal-shooting-corey-comperatore-8c09711e88a56432424ef3f980321ed2.">https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-fatal-shooting-corey-comperatore-8c09711e88a56432424ef3f980321ed2. Accessed 19 July 2024.

"Trump Honors Rally Shooting Victim Corey Comperatore with Moment of Silence at RNC." ABC News, 2024. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HadkcyTakTA. " target="blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HadkcyTakTA.">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HadkcyTakTA. Accessed 19 July 2024.

"Trump Honors Firefighter Corey Comperatore Killed During Assassination Attempt In Remarks To RNC." Forbes, 2024. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FU-ckIG9V4. " target="blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FU-ckIG9V4.">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FU-ckIG9V4. Accessed 19 July 2024.