Former President Donald Trump was almost killed yesterday when Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, scaled a rooftop with a rifle in Butler, Pennsylvania, and began opening fire. He had a clear vantage point to the stage where Trump was holding a rally. What should have been a fun campaign event almost became a national tragedy. Two other people were injured in the crossfire, while another attendee was tragically killed. The bullet from Crook’s rifle grazed Trump’s right ear. The kill shot missed him by millimeters.
They all saw him.
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) July 14, 2024
We haven't even begun to realize the importance of this footage. https://t.co/cxyuuEb4kt
That is THE question. https://t.co/Fyul6OwYXS
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 14, 2024
Not credible unless they were ordered to not see him.
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 14, 2024
Who gave the order to deliberately ignore and refuse to guard the most obvious shooting perch in the entire area? https://t.co/bR5ILOvvCZ
But lots of rally goers saw him. How the hell did they not?! https://t.co/ivqa27L0za
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) July 14, 2024
How the Secret Service missed this building is astounding. It doesn’t make sense. Were drones deployed during this event, too? It seems crazy that no one felt this area could be a vulnerability. Multiple witnesses saw Crooks army crawl on the roof before opening fire; some even alerted police, who did nothing.
I won’t comment on the known or unknowns about today’s events or diplomatic security, counter-sniper operations, but this is one of the world’s leading snipers, “The Reaper,” doing so. https://t.co/axv4yi1PRR
— John Spencer (@SpencerGuard) July 14, 2024
So, how did the Secret Service miss this area? Did they have enough resources to protect the president? The agency had better be prepared for many questions, as House Republicans announced they would launch a full investigation into this event.
REPORTER: Why was the roof near the Trump rally not secured?
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 14, 2024
FBI: “The Secret Service needs to answer that question." pic.twitter.com/YZTDD25E9x
"The Secret Service wasn't available for this press conference at this time"
— John Ekdahl (@JohnEkdahl) July 14, 2024
Incredible.
This seems to confirm that a dude was able to just climb on a roof, set up a rifle, and have a clear shot at a former president/current candidate. I think even as someone who knows nothing about these matters I can safely say that's an absolutely astonishing failure on every… https://t.co/HaIYdd0S9g
— Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) July 14, 2024