NBC2 spoke with Collier County Republican State Committeewoman Joann DeBartolo on Saturday, just hours before she had to board a plane to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.
She told NBC2 that she had concerns about the increase in violence for former President Donald Trump and now expects security to be even tighter following the apparent assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
"I expected this to happen. First, it was the Russian collusion, then it was impeachment, then it was raiding the Mar-a-Lago, trying to put him in prison you knew eventually it was going to be this," said DeBartolo.
According to Trump, the bullet hit the upper part of his right ear, shocking the nation, the world, and Southwest Florida.
"This is the only way they figured out that could stop him," said DeBartolo.
DeBartolo was part of the Trump Campaign during his first run in 2016, now she's looking ahead to what is expected to be his nomination in 2024.
"It’s going to take a lot out of us this week," said DeBartolo. "We are going to be under so much security and scrutiny, I just don’t know what’s going to expect this week, and are there going to be other attempts this week I don’t know."
The suspected shooter is dead, and an attendee was killed. Trump’s campaign says he is “fine” after being whisked off the stage and is being checked out at a local medical facility.
The convention starts Monday in Milwaukee.