In a shocking night for the United States, former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt, sparking intense discussions about the safety of politicians and the tone of political rhetoric in the country. Thomas Matthew Crooksa 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, with no criminal record, was identified as the attacker. Armed with a an AR-15 semi-automatic rifleCrooks’s gesture raises questions both about his motives and the safety of individuals holding senior positions.
As reported by the New York TimesCrooks had graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, where he had excelled in school activities related to math and science, even donating $15 to the Republican Party. On social media, however, he clearly wrote: “My name is Thomas Matthew Crooks. I hate Republicans, I hate Donald Trump“His sudden turn to violent action has left many perplexed about his true intentions and has shone a light on security measures around public figures, especially during periods of intense political activity.
Crooks lived in Bethel Park, about 35 miles south of Butler where Trump held his speech. He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, the year he was also awarded a “star award” for his excellent math skills, a $500 prize from the National Math and Science Initiative. Contacted by CNN, Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, said he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on.”
The shots, the blood, the screams of terror: the videos of the attack on Trump
The assault, which fortunately did not cause serious physical harm to the former presidenthowever, resulted in the death of one person present and serious injuries to two others, prompting urgent questions about how Crooks managed to get into a position where he could operate undisturbed, highlighting what many have called a “security failure.” Some of those present claim to have reported his presence to the police: “He was clearly seen with a rifle in his hand,” said one witness, “he had no idea what was happening.” The FBI has said, however, that there were no direct threats to Trump before tonight’s attack.
Of course, a little more aim would have been enough to smash the head of the former president. “He pierced the top of my right ear,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I knew right away that something was wrong, I heard a hiss, some gunshots and I felt the bullet tearing my skin.” And again: “There was a lot of bleeding, so I immediately understood what was happening.”
The reaction to this serious event was not long in coming, with the president Joe Biden who, while in Delaware, held an emergency press conference before returning to Home White to address the situation. On the other hand, the affair has fueled the fire of political controversy, with figures of the Republican Party such as Senator J.D. Vance and the Italian-American Steve Scalise who pointed the finger at Biden and the Democrats. They suggested that heated rhetoric and “ludicrous hysteria” toward Trump may have played a role in encouraging Crooks’s act, though those claims are still being debated.
Meanwhile, expressions of solidarity have arrived from all over the world. Joe Biden And Trump they spoke on the phone and the president renewed his good wishes already sent out during the night with a note. Giorgia Meloni and other world leaders also condemned the attack that, by a few centimeters, did not drag America into chaos. “My thoughts go to President Donald Trump, the victim of an assassination attempt,” she wrote Emmanuel Macron. “I send him my best wishes for a speedy recovery. One spectator died, several were injured. This is a tragedy for our democracies. France shares the shock and indignation of the American people.”
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