Inside the Chaos After Trump's Assassination Attempt: Alex Isenstadt on 'Revenge'

Chaos and Political Calculation Post-Assassination Attempt

• 💡 Even amidst the chaos and trauma of the assassination attempt, Donald Trump was immediately aware of the political gold to be mined from the event.
• 🎯 Trump, described as a marketer, understood the power of images and choreography, exemplified by his fist-shaking moment which he knew would be linked to his legacy.
• 🤯 Behind the scenes at Butler Hospital, Trump's aides were bombarded with misinformation, with one news outlet even preparing to report that Trump had died.
• ⚠️ Trump's spokesperson, Steph Chung, was working to craft a statement confirming Trump was in fine condition while dealing with the overwhelming influx of reporter inquiries.

Unanswered Questions About the Assassin

• ❓ A significant question remains about the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, and his motives, which Donald Trump himself has privately expressed interest in understanding.
• 🔍 To this day, there is very little information available about Crooks, including a minimal social media footprint, which is unusual and something Trump has discussed privately.

Security Concerns Leading Up to the Attack

• ⚠️ Leading up to the assassination attempt, Trump's security team was on edge due to his habit of mingling closely with crowds at retail stops, a practice that inherently put him in danger.
• 🚫 Secret Service repeatedly advised against Trump's close proximity to supporters, but he often insisted on proceeding, overriding their concerns.
• 🚨 Incidents like finding dozens of guns at a college fraternity house before a Trump visit and a highway incident in DC where the road was not cleared for his motorcade highlight ongoing security lapses.
• 🚧 Even in a courthouse elevator, security was lax, with the elevator not being stopped, allowing it to open on every floor with people present.

About the Book 'Revenge'

• 📖 Alex Isenstadt, senior political reporter at Axios, discusses his new book, "Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power."
• ✨ The book offers a fascinating look into the events and behind-the-scenes details following the assassination attempt and Trump's subsequent actions.