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Thursday, Aug 20, 2026
Outside the box.
Trump Security Unaware of Gunman Until Shots Fired
A gunman opened fire on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. Despite local law enforcement identifying shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks as suspicious beforehand, Trump's security was unaware of the threat until the shots were fired. Trump was injured, two attendees wounded, and a firefighter killed. Secret Service admitted to failures and Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after the incident.
A gunman opened fire on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, with Trump’s security team and a sniper squad unaware of the threat until the shots were fired.
FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was known to local police as a 'suspicious person' about 90 minutes before the attack.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged the security failure, stating that neither the counter-sniper teams nor Trump's security detail were aware of the gunman on the roof.
Crooks fired eight rounds before being neutralized by a Secret Service sniper.
Trump was wounded in the right ear, two rally attendees were injured, and a Pennsylvania firefighter was killed.
Local law enforcement was responsible for securing the rooftop but failed to communicate the threat adequately.
Crooks had flown a drone near the rally site two hours before the attack.
A social media account linked to him showed anti-Semitic and anti-immigration posts, but no definite motive has been established.
The Secret Service admitted to technical difficulties with their counter-drone capabilities on the day of the attack, contributing to the security lapse.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following the incident.
FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was known to local police as a 'suspicious person' about 90 minutes before the attack.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged the security failure, stating that neither the counter-sniper teams nor Trump's security detail were aware of the gunman on the roof.
Crooks fired eight rounds before being neutralized by a Secret Service sniper.
Trump was wounded in the right ear, two rally attendees were injured, and a Pennsylvania firefighter was killed.
Local law enforcement was responsible for securing the rooftop but failed to communicate the threat adequately.
Crooks had flown a drone near the rally site two hours before the attack.
A social media account linked to him showed anti-Semitic and anti-immigration posts, but no definite motive has been established.
The Secret Service admitted to technical difficulties with their counter-drone capabilities on the day of the attack, contributing to the security lapse.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following the incident.
