A year after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the president expressed he is “satisfied” with how the investigation is progressing, although specifics are still somewhat unclear.
On July 13, 2024, shortly before the Republican National Convention, Trump spoke at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Just six minutes into his speech, gunfire erupted. A moment later, a Secret Service agent whisked Trump offstage. Trump, while being led away, raised his fist and shouted, “Fight, fight, fight.”
For months, many questions lingered about the incident. Who was the shooter? What drove him to act? And how did the Secret Service miss someone armed with a rifle? Would Trump still hold outdoor rallies in the future? (Related: “Why aren’t we diving deeper?”: Harris Faulkner questions the response to Trump’s assassination attempt)
A year later, the answers remain elusive. Recently, Trump told a news outlet he was “very happy” with the responses from the FBI, Department of Justice, and the Secret Service.
This was quite a shift from his sentiments expressed earlier. In March, Trump had voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of his security detail, noting it was difficult to fully trust their assurances.
In the chaos of that day, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks fired several rounds at the crowd from a distance, perched on a building around 400 feet away. One of the bullets grazed Trump, injuring audience members, and tragically killing former firefighter Corey Comperatore. Reports indicated Crooks had even filmed the rally setup with a drone beforehand. Authorities only identified him as a threat moments before he opened fire.
I mean, it’s just hard to wrap your head around. Trump had previously stated, “I rely on people to inform me… The Secret Service assures me it’s fine, but it’s tough to believe.” A few days later, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino stated there was no conspiracy behind the assassination attempts on Trump.
He said, “If something significant were happening, I’d expect some logical explanation. Given my background as a Secret Service agent, I’d have seen it.” Yet, in his experience, he mentioned that sometimes, things just aren’t what they seem.
Details about Thomas Crooks remain sparse. Reports indicate he had contributed $15 to a progressive political action committee and was registered as a Republican. Leading up to the rally, he had searched online for various details related to Trump. It raises eyebrows, doesn’t it?
Currently, six agents have faced disciplinary actions linked to the incident, with suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days. According to reports, these agents included both supervisors and regular agents. They’ve returned to their duties but with limitations.
Reflecting on the event’s anniversary, Trump spoke with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who described that day as a “bad day.” She remarked that there should have been better communication with local police, hinting at a larger issue at play. Trump concurred, expressing confidence in his team, while acknowledging the day they faced was challenging.
