Everything we know about Trump’s assassination attempt as authorities work to uncover sniper’s motive
Former President Donald Trump was shot in an assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania Saturday. A sniper had managed to climb onto the roof of a manufacturing plant 130 yards away from where Trump was speaking and opened fire on the Republican nominee.
Trump was hit in the ear, two attendees were critically injured and one was killed by the would-be assassin. Secret Service agents killed the gunman.
Trump shot
Trump was mid-sentence when shots rang out at the outdoor rally venue.
Trump could be seen putting his hand to his ear, before ducking down as Secret Service agents swarmed the presumptive Republican presidential candidate.
The sniper, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was approximately 400 feet away fired between five and seven shots at the former president before he was killed by the Secret Service.
Trump could be heard telling agents attempting to escort him off stage “let me get my shoes” before saying “wait, wait” in a raspy voice and pumping his fist in the air to a charged-up crowd who chanted “USA! USA!” as the bloodied former president was evacuated to safety.
“[Trump came within inches of having his face shot open,” a senior law enforcement source told The Post.
Witnesses said they frantically tried to warn Secret Service agents about a suspicious man on the roof of the manufacturing plant moments before he unleashed his deadly onslaught.
“He was up there for a couple of minutes, absolutely at least three, four minutes. We were pointing at him for the Secret Service, who were looking at us from the top of the barn. They were looking at us the whole time,” Greg Smith told the BBC.
A doctor had attempted to save the life of a badly wounded rallygoer, who was “jammed” between the bleachers and had “visible brain matter” exposed.
The FBI expressed surprise at how many bullets the sniper was able to fire before Secret Service “blew his head off.”
“It is surprising but, to get all the details of that will come out later in the investigation,” Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, said at a press conference.
The shooter was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was described as a “bullied loner” by former classmates, though the school denied any allegations of bullying.
Crooks used a rifle that was purchased by his father, and explosive materials were found in his car and home. A motive has not yet been determined.
In a statement shortly after the attempt on his life, Trump said he could feel “the bullet ripping through [my] skin,” and “there was much bleeding.”
Trump adviser Dan Scavino credited Trump’s decision to “use and reference the jumbotron” at the rally with saving his life.
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’- Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities’ radar more than 90 minutes before shooting: report
- FBI to conduct victim interview with Donald Trump after assassination attempt
- Ex-Trump doc says FBI’s Wray is ‘wrong’ to doubt ex-prez was struck by bullet: ‘Absolutely no evidence’
- Trump defends female Secret Service agent who was criticized after assassination attempt: ‘So brave’
Trump had turned his head toward the jumbotron at the exact moment bullets whizzed past him.
Trump was treated at a local hospital before flying to his Bedminster property. He could be seen walking solemnly out of his private plane.
Trump urged the nation to “fear not” and to not allow evil “to win” in a subsequent statement the next morning.
The ex-commander in chief later told The Post he’s “supposed to be dead” while recalling the shooting.
“The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle,” Trump said.
He will attend the Republican National Convention this week, according to his campaign.
Victims
Retired volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed by the sniper’s bullet at the rally. Comperatore apparently dived in front of his family to protect them from the hailstorm of bullets. Comperatore has served as the fire chief for Buffalo Township.
“He was a hero that shielded his daughters,” Comperatore’s sister Dawn wrote in a Facebook post.
“His wife and girls just lived through the unthinkable and unimaginable,” she added.
Two others were badly wounded and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson claims his nephew, who attended the rally, was grazed by a bullet.
The other two victims, who are now listed in stable condition, have been identified as Pennsylvanian’s David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township.
The Trump campaign has organized a fundraiser for the victims and their families.
Fury at Secret Service
Many were furious that the assassination attempt had even taken place, and placed blame on insufficient preparation from the Secret Service.
Critics questioned how a sniper managed to climb onto the roof of a building so close to the former president and fire between five and seven shots before he was killed and the threat neutralized.
It was later revealed that 20 minutes passed between the time that Secret Service snipers first spotted Crooks perched on a roof with a rifle and the time he began firing at the former president.
Additionally, law enforcement confirmed that Crooks was free to roam event on his bike and scout the scene before taking aim at Trump.
President Biden announced Sunday he will increase Trump’s Secret Service protection and ordered a full investigation.
On Monday, Service Service director Kimberly Cheatle announced changes to the former president’s security detail ahead of the RNC.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) announced that his panel will call Cheatle for a hearing on July 22.
Some claim Trump has been denied beefed-up protection.
“There have been repeated requests to increase the security footprint around not just the residences of Donald Trump but the body itself. And they have been rebuffed,” former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino, told Fox News.
Many on social media criticized the performance of individual agents who could be seen in a video struggling to holster their weapons as Trump boarded a black SUV.
Law enforcement sources told The Post that Secret Service’s decision to evacuate Trump off the side of the stage, instead of the rear, left him vulnerable to an attack from a second shooter.
“The evacuation did not go right,” Bongino said.
In response to backlash, the Secret Service blamed local police for failing to secure the rooftop from which gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate the ex-commander in chief.
The agency insisted it was outside the space they were tasked with protecting.
Reactions
After the shooting, sick online trolls posted conspiracy theories that the assassination attempt was “staged.”
“Trump getting shot was completely staged,” an X user posted “He wouldn’t stop looking in that direction.”
“Staged” was the second highest trending word on X for a period of time, behind Trump.
Some lefty TikTok users even despicably lamented the fact that the shooter missed.
“You’re telling me somebody finally had the balls to bring a ‘pew-pew,’ and they missed?” a TikTok user @cele2t3 posted.
Celebrities criticized the size of Trump’s bandage during his appearance at the RNC on Monday, July 15.
“1st APPEARANCE of ludicrously oversized ear bandage, apparently not needed prior to tonight,” Star Wars actor Mark Hamill wrote on X alongside ear and laughing emojis to accompany a photo of Trump at the RNC.
Similarly, tennis legend Martina Navratilova called Trump’s gauze a “PR stunt.”
However, Trump’s family along with his supporters and even some detractors expressed support for the former president in the aftermath of the shooting.
“I love you Dad, today and always,” his daughter Ivanka said in a statement. She later wrote that she believed her deceased mother Ivana was watching over her father that day.
Trump’s son Eric said his dad was the “toughest man I have ever met.”
Donald Trump Jr. said his father would “never stop fighting” in a post on X.
RFK Jr. called Trump’s reaction after getting shot courageous and “inspirational.”
“I fully endorse President Trump,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on X.
“When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change,” Trump’s wife Melania said.
World leaders condemned the assassination attempt with Argentinian President Javier Millei calling the act “cowardly” and claiming it was part of a leftist agenda.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “sickened” by the shooting.
“It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable,” he said. “My thoughts are with former President Trump, those at the event, and all Americans.”
