The American people came a fraction of an inch away from mourning the death of former President Donald Trump this morning. Or in the case of those so deeply afflicted with TDS they should be institutionalized, celebrating his death. (Woe to those sharing the viral hashtag #MakeAmericaAimAgain.)

This Sunday as we go to our houses of worship, let us be thankful that Trump has survived this attempt on his life. Let us pray for family of the Trump supporters who lost their lives or were injured in the attack. And let us pray, oh Lord, that this is the end of political violence in our nation. Let us look to our own hearts and use words words that build rather than tear down.

Let also be clear-eyed in uncovering the facts — and exposing those who stir the rancor that likely led to this act. Personally, I woke with one thought this morning in that regard: John Wilkes Booth thought he’d be hailed as a hero for taking down a tyrant.

Is that what suspected shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks thought?

Suspect Identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks

The FBI has identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa. as Trump’s would-be assassin. Crooks was taken down by Secret Service sharpshooters, but not before injuring Trump, killing one rally attendee, and critically injuring another.

According to FEC records, Crooks donated $15 on Joe Biden’s inauguration day through Act Blue to the Progressive Turnout Project, which describes itself as “dedicated to mobilizing the Democratic Party and defending democracy.”

Did Crooks see himself as a “defender” of democracy? Someone stepping into the gap when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of Trump, “He has to be stopped”?  Or when Joe Biden said last Friday, “Most importantly, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, Trump is a threat to this nation,” did Crooks see it as his duty to eliminate that threat?

Assuming the truth isn’t buried like the Nashville shooter’s manifesto, we should learn that in the days to come.

The Latest

Trump Sets Up GoFundMe for Victims, Thanks God

Trump spent the night at his Bedminster country club in New Jersey, where he is said to be in good spirits and comforting his family. Early Sunday morning, the former president released a statement on Truth Social.

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win. I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.

Trump also set up a GoFundMe account for the other victims of the assassination attempt. The text on it reads:

“President Donald Trump has authorized this account as a place for donations to the supporters and families wounded or killed in today’s brutal and horrific assassination attempt. All donations will be directed to these proud Americans as they grieve and recover. May God bless and unite our nation.”

As of 7 a.m. Eastern, the fund had raised more than $238,000 toward a goal of $1 million.

Prayers from Around the World

Thoughts and prayers for President Trump and the other victims of Saturday’s assassination attempt continue to pour in from world leaders.

New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted on X, “I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and we send him and his family our best wishes. Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack.”

An “appalled” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “Such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world. Never should violence prevail. I extend my wishes for strength to everyone who is horrified by this event. I wish America emerges stronger from this.”

The Chinese foreign ministry released a statement:

China is concerned about the shooting of former President Trump, and President Xi Jinping has sent his regards to former President Trump.

“My solidarity and my best wishes for a speedy recovery go to him, with the hope that the next few months of the electoral campaign will see dialogue and responsibility prevail over hatred and violence,” wrote Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

What Is Going on With the Secret Service?

No one is going to doubt the bravery of the Secret Service agents who rushed to protect Donald Trump’s body with their own. But we do have to ask how a sniper managed to get on top of a building with line of sight to the stage, crawl on his belly into position and get shots off without being spotted.

Crooks was only 150 yards away on the roof of a manufacturing plant just north of the Butler Farm Show grounds. At a briefing late last night, FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said he was “surprised” that none of his agents spotted or stopped the gunman (because other people at the rally did). This was a colossal failure on the part of the Secret Service.

Multiple eyewitnesses claim they and those around them saw a man with the rifle climbing onto the roof. He said they alerted officers, but nothing seemed to happen. “Why is Trump still speaking?” the man was wondering. “Why haven’t they pulled him off stage?”

https://twitter.com/gs_mick/status/1812268166988648571

Another eyewitness describes seeing the shooter on top of the buildings just outside the Trump rally, going from one to the next. He attempted to communicate the shooter's location with law enforcement. The question remains: Why was Trump allowed to continue speaking when a known… pic.twitter.com/bj9qrw38n0

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 14, 2024

 

Questions for the Secret Service don’t end at the shooting site. Both former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino and Sean Davis of The Federalist report the Trump campaign has been begging for wider protection for the presidential candidate from the Department of Homeland Security under Alejandro Mayorkas, given the threat level. Those requests were rebuffed.

Why? With the political atmosphere smelling so similar to what it was in 1968, and so many openly talking about assassination, particularly after the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity, why?!

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is demanding Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle testify in an emergency hearing. We’ve heard Cheatle’s name recently in another context: Only a few short months ago, Bloomberg reported that dozens of Secret Service agents were circulating a petition condemning the deterioration of quality and training at the agency under her leadership.

This came after a female agent on Kamala Harris’s detail had a breakdown of some sort and assaulted her superior officer while waiting for Harris to arrive at Joint Base Andrews. It also comes after the agency, unbelievably, declared that after only a couple of days of effort, they were unable to determine who left a small bag of cocaine close to the Oval Office.

The agents were reportedly concerned that Cheatle’s proud and loud support of DEI had impacted the efficiency and quality of the Secret Service. One hope that’s not really the case. But then one watches this video from yesterday’s attack and has to wonder.

Watching the ladies at work here. pic.twitter.com/ySuIw78VfR

— Sharyl Attkisson 🕵️‍♂️💼🥋 (@SharylAttkisson) July 14, 2024

Those in the care of the Secret Service deserve better than that, and the American people deserve answers and accountability.

 

Al Perrotta is The Stream’s Washington bureau chief, coauthor with John Zmirak of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration, and coauthor of the counterterrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.