Butler, Pennsylvania, USA – US authorities have confirmed that Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, acted alone with no evidence of foreign involvement. Despite this, FBI officials revealed at a news briefing that the motive behind the assassination attempt remains unclear, citing Crooks’ “mixture of ideologies.”
During the investigation, authorities disclosed Crooks’ online activities and released images of the AR-15 style rifle he used and the improvised explosive devices found in his car. Crooks made his attempt on Trump’s life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, where he grazed Trump’s ear, resulting in the death of one individual and severe injury to two others.
Kevin Rojek, head of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, detailed Crooks’ online search history, showing his focus on Trump campaign events dating back to September 2023. Crooks registered for the rally a week in advance and intensively researched the event’s location and potential attack strategies. Authorities believe Crooks engaged in meticulous attack planning, indicating a deliberate intent to harm the former president.
FBI officials emphasized that Crooks exhibited a “mixture of ideologies,” with no clear alignment to a specific political leaning. While he was a registered Republican and donated to a liberal campaign group in 2021, his online presence displayed contradictory ideological views, including anti-Semitic remarks that are currently under investigation.
The FBI revealed that Crooks climbed onto the roof of a building near the rally site, firing shots at Trump before being neutralized by a Secret Service sniper after six minutes. In response to criticism from conservatives regarding the handling of the crime scene and Crooks’ body, FBI officials defended their standard procedures and emphasized the cooperation of Crooks’ family in the investigation.
A Congressional task force is now investigating security failures that led to the shooting, with the recently appointed acting director, Ronald Rowe, replacing Kimberly Cheatle as director of the Secret Service. Cheatle stepped down following intense pressure from lawmakers, while five Secret Service agents have been placed on administrative leave in the wake of the security lapse.
Since the assassination attempt, Trump has resumed public appearances, holding his first outdoor rally in North Carolina, where he appeared behind bulletproof glass. The FBI continues to delve into Crooks’ online presence and motives, striving to understand the complex factors that culminated in the violent attack on the former president.