Staff Reports
In just one week, Donald Trump will once again take the reins of the presidency. However, this momentous occasion comes on the heels of a shocking event that nearly thwarted it all. Six months ago, a young man named Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to take Trump’s life during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. While this assassination attempt should have been front-page news, many unanswered questions linger, leading some to speculate about a potential cover-up by the FBI and the Secret Service.
On July 13, 2024, in a scene that sounds like a bad movie script, Crooks managed to climb to the roof of a nearby building and fired eight shots at Trump as he spoke to supporters below. Thanks to the swift action of a Secret Service sniper, Crooks was stopped before he could do any lasting harm. But instead of polite applause for the heroics of the snipers and law enforcement, the aftermath raised many eyebrows. Where was the public outrage? Why hasn’t the event received more media attention? As it stands, Crooks’ motives remain unknown.
To make matters even more peculiar, we are told everything fell nearly silent after the event. Sure, the FBI and Secret Service have given us a couple of snippets here and there, but the questions seem to outnumber the answers exponentially. In the chaotic hours that followed the incident, while other infamous cases were dissected by the media, Crooks became a mere footnote in history. It raises a question that many are asking: did the intelligence agencies engage in “memory holing”? This term describes the suppression or alteration of embarrassing information and paints a troubling picture of governmental transparency—or the lack thereof.
Let’s take a look at Crooks, the man at the center of this brewing storm. Reports indicate he was a quiet, awkward 20-year-old from Pennsylvania, described as a loner—a common theme among those who attempt violence against public figures. But there’s more. Before that fateful day, he appeared to have no significant digital footprint. In this age of social media and online presence, it’s bizarre for a young adult to be entirely off the radar. Critics wonder whether a lack of information about this man is a sign that he was merely a pawn in a larger game. Did he act alone, or was there a greater force manipulating events behind the scenes?
In the aftermath of this near-tragedy, attention turned to the events of that day. How did Crooks manage to access the roof? Reports indicate that he was spotted on the rooftop 19 minutes prior to Trump’s appearance; yet no alarms were raised. That’s an alarming oversight—a person might reasonably argue should never have happened at a high-profile rally. Crooks had even brought a drone and showcased homemade explosives in his vehicle; according to officials, he had a plan that could have caused greater chaos. With all these facts pointing to the absurdity of that day, it’s increasingly difficult to dismiss the strange coincidences surrounding Crooks’ attempt at carrying out a heinous act.
Looking ahead, it’s crucial for citizens to demand accountability and transparency from their leaders. The questions aren’t going away: Who exactly was Thomas Matthew Crooks, and what were his true motives? Why did government agencies seemingly ignore clear signs of danger? And let’s not overlook that if Trump had been harmed, the narrative surrounding not only his return to the presidency but also the very course of American history could have been altered forever. With the election countdown on, events that transpired six months ago deserve another look. One can only hope that this time, the truth will finally emerge from the shadows.
