Ivanka Trump said she felt “horrified and scared” while watching her father survive a shooting at a Pennsylvania rally, but instinctively sensed he would be okay.

On July 13, gunfire erupted during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a shooter opened fire and grazed Donald Trump’s ear before being neutralized by Secret Service personnel. The incident quickly spread across news outlets as images circulated showing the then-candidate with visible injuries on his face.

Authorities identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed at the scene by a Secret Service counter sniper team. Trump released a statement hours later describing the moment of impact, writing, “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”

What Ivanka Witnessed

Ivanka Trump watched the shooting unfold “almost in real-time” on television at the Trump family golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where she was present with two of her children. “There was a lot of commotion. The televisions were on, so I saw it almost immediately,” the 44-year-old told host Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO podcast in April.

Her immediate instinct was to shield her children from what was happening on screen. “My first reaction was to turn them away. It was incredibly difficult,” she said, referring to her three children with husband Jared Kushner.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the situation, Ivanka described experiencing an unexpected sense of calm. “Interestingly, I knew in real time in that moment that he was fine. I just knew it wasn’t his time,” she explained.

Processing the Experience

Ivanka reflected on how the incident has shaped her perspective on life and emotional resilience. “We were so fortunate that day that this was a failed attempt to take his life, not a realized one,” she said, adding that the experience prompted a deeper appreciation for connection and mortality.

She emphasized the importance of choosing how to respond to traumatic events rather than remaining consumed by them. “You sort of recommit to love and connection and to a recognition of how short our time here on earth is and how you have to value it,” she said.

When reflecting on her father’s survival, Ivanka stated, “That is an extraordinary blessing for me, as his daughter. In life, you have a choice only in how you respond. And I choose to see the positive outcome that transpired.”

Looking Forward

Ivanka acknowledged the complexity of the event while emphasizing her decision to focus on gratitude. “I could look at what happened and be rightfully traumatized by the experience, and nobody could really argue with that, but you have to move through it,” she said.

When asked about the shooter, Ivanka acknowledged the disturbing nature of the attack but centered her response on her father’s survival. “There’s a lot of sickness there and I think that forgiveness is a difficult thing in this regard. But [my father] living was a blessing,” she said.

This story has been updated. CNN’s Digital team contributed to this report.