Staged Assassination Attempts
Events related to alleged staged or so-called assassination attempts against Donald Trump, including the July 13, 2024 Butler, PA rally shooting and subsequent incidents.
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The so-called assassination attempts against Donald Trump — particularly the July 13, 2024 Butler, PA rally shooting — have been subject to intense scrutiny, with many questioning the official narrative. This timeline documents the events, the security failures, the casualties, and the aftermath.
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Events in other topics connected to this category.
Events (12)
Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former fire chief and rally attendee, is killed by gunfire from Thomas Matthew Crooks at the Butler rally. David Dutch and James Copenhaver are critically wounded. Comperatore is hailed as a hero for shielding his family. His death becomes a political symbol — Trump and allies invoke his name at nearly every subsequent rally. The Trump …
Campaign rally in Meridian, PA. General Election rallies (2024)
During a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds, a shooter identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks opens fire from an elevated position on the AGR building rooftop, approximately 130 yards from the stage. Trump is struck in the ear. Corey Comperatore, a rally attendee, is killed. David Dutch and James Copenhaver are critically wounded. The shooter is neutralized by …
Three days after the Butler shooting, Trump appears at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee with a white bandage over his right ear, to a prolonged standing ovation and chants of "Fight! Fight! Fight!" — echoing his fist-pump and shouted words immediately after being shot. The image of Trump with a bandaged ear, raised fist, and blood on his face …
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns following a contentious House Oversight Committee hearing where she faced bipartisan criticism for security failures at the Butler rally. Cheatle refused to answer multiple questions and was unable to explain how the shooter accessed a rooftop with a direct line of sight to the stage. Her resignation comes 10 days after the shooting, following …
FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before Congress that it remained "unknown" whether Trump was struck by a bullet, shrapnel, or debris. The comment sparks immediate backlash from Trump allies who accuse the FBI of downplaying the assassination attempt. Days later, the FBI is forced to issue a correction, confirming that Trump was indeed struck by a bullet (or a fragment …
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe testifies before Congress, revealing new details about the Butler shooting. Rowe confirms that the shooter was identified as suspicious by local law enforcement on police radio 26 minutes before he opened fire, but this information was not relayed to Secret Service command. Rowe also reveals that the AGR building rooftop — from which Crooks …
Trump publicly blames President Biden and the Democratic Party for creating a "toxic atmosphere" that led to the assassination attempt, repeatedly citing Bidens "put a bullseye on Trump" comment from a private donor call. Trump demands military aircraft for campaign travel, citing security concerns. The claim that "Biden created the atmosphere for assassination" becomes a central campaign talking point, repeated …
Trump is rushed offstage at a campaign rally and into a secure vehicle after a disturbance near the perimeter. The Secret Service later states it was a "security precaution" related to a suspicious individual. No shots are fired and no weapon is found. Right-wing media and Trump campaign surrogates immediately label it a "second assassination attempt." The incident follows the …
The Secret Service engages with a suspect near Trumps West Palm Beach golf course. Trump is unharmed. The suspect is arrested and charged. Critics question the official narrative, noting inconsistencies in the timeline and the suspect background. The incident is used by the Trump campaign to argue that Democrats and the media have created a "hit job" atmosphere. The "second …
The House task force investigating the Butler rally shooting releases its final report, concluding that the security failures were "preventable" and resulted from breakdowns in communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement. Key finding: the shooter was identified as suspicious on local police radio 26 minutes before the shooting, but the information was not relayed to the Secret …
On the second anniversary of the Butler shooting, Trump posts on Truth Social suggesting the "deep state" will try again. The post hints at further assassination attempts as an inevitability, framing himself as a martyr fighting against a corrupt system. The post generates millions of engagements and is used in fundraising appeals. Critics note the pattern: each anniversary and each …