FBI Investigates Trump Assassination Attempt as Potential Terrorism

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, as a potential act of domestic terrorism. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by Secret Service agents after injuring Trump, was previously unknown to the FBI. Authorities are struggling to determine Crooks’ motive, as no manifestos or materials indicating a political or ideological motive have been found. Rudimentary bomb materials were discovered in Crooks’ car, suggesting a possible terrorism offense.
FBI officials, including counterterrorism division assistant director Robert Wells and Special Agent Kevin Rojek, have stated that preliminary searches of Crooks’ social media have not revealed any threatening content, and the investigation is ongoing. They believe Crooks acted alone and there are no ongoing threats to public safety, though there has been a spike in political violence threats following the attack.
President Joe Biden and Trump have both called for calm and unity. However, the incident has prompted scrutiny of the Secret Service and law enforcement’s security measures, with eyewitness accounts and reports indicating that Crooks’ presence was noted by bystanders and one police officer before he opened fire. The FBI and Secret Service maintain that appropriate security measures were in place.