Trump said he was surprised at how close alleged shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to get
In a candid conversation with Fox News host Jesse Watters, former President Trump and his 2024 running mate JD Vance opened up about the recent assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. This marked their first joint interview following the harrowing incident that nearly claimed Trump’s life.
During the interview on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Trump discussed his recent meeting with embattled Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. “It went very nicely. She was very nice, I thought. But, you know, somebody should have made sure there was nobody on that roof,” Trump remarked.
Local Pennsylvania Police Blocked from Secret Service Command Center at Trump Rally
The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired multiple shots from the rooftop of the American Glass Research building, approximately 130 yards away. Investigators are still trying to understand how Crooks managed to secure a clear line of sight to Trump.
Eyewitness Michael Difrischia captured footage of Crooks lying on the roof with an AR-style rifle aimed at the rally.
“I saw a younger kid running through the crowd, and somebody had spoken up and said the guy had a gun,” Difrischia told “The Ingraham Angle” last week. “The problem was the police officers were too close to the building. They could not see him. We were trying to tell them he’s right there, but they just couldn’t see him.”
Other witnesses also attempted to alert the police about the shooter before he fired, grazing Trump’s ear and tragically killing former Pennsylvania fire chief Corey Comperatore. The attack also injured David Dutch and James Copenhaver.
Trump expressed his surprise at how close Crooks was able to get. “They said a bad shot would usually hit the target. So, I mean, somebody’s got to be there. And it’s essentially a flat roof,” Trump explained.
He mentioned that Cheatle had described the building’s roof as sloped, which was cited as a reason for not posting agents there. However, Trump believes Cheatle was given “false information.”
Cheatle had previously told ABC News that the building had a “sloped roof at its highest point,” which posed a safety concern for stationing agents. Trump questioned why he wasn’t asked to delay his appearance on stage if there were any security concerns. “You have to answer why couldn’t I have stayed off the stage for five minutes while they did their work?” he asked.
Cheatle appeared on Capitol Hill to address the security lapses that nearly resulted in Trump’s assassination. She acknowledged the incident as the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades. In response, House Oversight Committee members Reps. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called for Cheatle’s resignation, citing her failure to provide adequate answers and reassure the public.
Despite the security breach, Trump praised his Secret Service agents for their swift action in shielding him from harm. He also provided an update on his recovery, stating that his ear is healing well. “We’re getting down to the small bandages. But it was a nasty one. And it was nasty, period. That was exactly one week ago from today,” he said. Reflecting on the incident, Trump added, “I got very lucky, or God, I think it was God.”
Stay tuned for further developments on this story as the investigation continues and security measures are scrutinized.