The Plot to Kill Trump: One Year Later - Investigation into the Assassination Attempt

The Assassination Attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania

• 🎯 On July 13, 2024, a shooter named Thomas Matthew Krooks targeted then-candidate Donald Trump from a rooftop approximately 400 feet away.
• 🎯 The shooter struck Trump in the ear, narrowly missing his head by less than a quarter of an inch.
• ⚠️ The attack resulted in the death of bystander Cory Comperator, who shielded his family, and critically wounded two others, James Coppenhaver and David Dutch.

Shooter's Descent and Unanswered Questions

• 🧠 Thomas Krooks, an honor student who scored in the top 1% on his SATs, underwent a gradual and hidden transformation leading up to the attack.
• 🔍 Despite his intelligence and academic achievements, Krooks exhibited bizarre behavior, used aliases, and engaged in secretive activities, including bomb-making attempts in his bedroom.
• ❓ Authorities and even President Trump have questioned why Krooks was not flagged by law enforcement, the FBI, or the Secret Service, and why more information about his motive has not been disclosed.

Secret Service Failures and Accountability

• 📉 A scathing Senate report and internal Secret Service reviews revealed significant operational failures, including denying requests for additional resources and a lack of communication regarding the suspicious individual.
• ⚖️ Six Secret Service personnel were suspended without pay or benefits, ranging from 10 to 42 days, for operational failures, though no agents were fired, leading to criticism from the victim's family.
• ⚠️ Former Secret Service agents and a congressman on the investigating task force highlighted a lack of basic security protocols, complacency, and a failure to embrace technology as contributing factors.

Congressional Investigation and Obstacles

• 🚧 A bipartisan congressional task force investigating the attempt faced stonewalling from the FBI and DOJ, being denied crucial information such as ballistic analysis and details about the rifle used.
• 🚫 Congressman Pat Fallon suggested that the Biden administration's DOJ was less cooperative than a Trump administration DOJ would have been, hindering the investigation's ability to fully understand the events and potential motives.
• ❓ The task force found no evidence that Krooks conspired with anyone, concluding he was a disturbed individual seeking to emulate figures like Lee Harvey Oswald, but acknowledged that information regarding encrypted apps and potential foreign threats (like Iran) remained a concern.

Reflections and Future Security

• 🗣️ President Trump, reflecting on the one-year anniversary, emphasized that God was protecting him and that being president is a dangerous profession, but expressed a desire to focus on his job rather than dwelling on the event.
• 🤝 Journalist Selena Zitto, who was near the stage during the attack, shared her conversations with Trump about purpose and being spared, highlighting his perspective that his response of "fight by fight" was about what America stands for.
• 💡 The incident serves as a stark reminder of the threat of political violence and the need for enhanced security measures, including embracing new technologies and ensuring proper training and accountability within the Secret Service to prevent future attacks.