I don’t question the assassination attempt. I also believe there is NO place for violence of any kind, including rhetorical. It was a sad, horrific event.

The recent article from PBS gives a clear view of Trump as he left the stage. If you zoom in on his ear, there is no hole, it doesn’t even seem he lost a chunk of ear. The wound doesn’t look any worse than a scraped knee. The gauze is still there to draw attention and sympathy. He’s a showman, he understands the reaction the gauze will evoke.