video Share with X ABC News reporter Pierre Thomas claimed the US government tried to assassinate 2024 Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump while reporting on the shooting that took place at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
NEW: ABC host claims the US government tried to kill President Trump! 🤬 pic.twitter.com/s1tVkPoqIF
— Danny C (@DannyC1111_DC) July 24, 2024
Verdict: False
This claim is false: According to a transcript included in the original video uploaded to Good Morning America's verified YouTube channel, Thomas said “the shooter” instead of “the government” when reporting on the shooting.
Fact check:
The FBI reportedly recovered a drone and “two relatively crude explosive devices” from the car and home of Trump rally shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks. The HillAccording to the outlet, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in recent testimony before the House Judiciary Committee that the explosives were capable of being “remotely detonated.”
XVideo claims that Thomas said the government was trying to kill President Trump while reporting on the shooting at the former Republican president's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. The post's caption reads, “New: ABC host claims the US government tried to kill President Trump!” Thomas said on the show that the report focuses on new video taken just seconds after the shooting.
This claim is false. original videoAccording to a video uploaded to Good Morning America's verified YouTube channel, Thomas said “the shooter” instead of “the government” when reporting on the shooting.
“Viewers will witness the frantic seconds that followed the shooter's attempt to assassinate former President Trump,” Thomas says at the 0:15 mark of the video, which focuses on helmet camera footage of officers on the roof of a nearby building where Crooks began firing. The footage also shows officers counting shell casings on the roof.
We also see a purposefully blurred image of Crooks' body, shot dead by a sniper. Thomas makes no mention of any government involvement in the shooting.
Similarly, this claim ABC News website Not even verified Social media accountIn addition, Check Your Fact There is no reliable news coverage To back up the claim, the opposite is true. July 25th, Logical Facts It reported that the allegations were false. (Related: Despite online claims, Trump was shot)
Check Your Fact has reached out to an ABC News spokesperson for comment and will update this story if we receive any comment.
