White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt emphasized the need for transparency regarding Thomas Crooks’ attempted assassination of President Trump, particularly after reports surfaced about digital evidence the FBI previously kept from the public. She acknowledged that the public has the right to seek answers, as do President Trump and all Americans.
“I certainly want to know, and I think everyone else does too,” Leavitt shared in an interview with Miranda Devine on Pod Force One.
These remarks followed Devine’s revelations in Monday’s Post about troubling social media activity linked to Crooks, including apparent support for political violence and a disdain for Trump, alongside indicating alternative gender pronouns online.
The motives behind Crooks’ actions remain a pressing question nearly 16 months after the incident, which tragically resulted in the death of a beloved firefighter and injuries to other Trump supporters.
There are several key questions that still linger:
- Did Crooks act independently, or was he in contact with foreign agents?
- Why did the FBI fail to act on his violent online remarks?
- Did the FBI provide all relevant evidence to Congressional investigators?
- Were all of Crooks’ online activities discovered, or did some slip through the cracks?
Officials had previously characterized Crooks as largely non-existent online, but disturbing posts emerged that contradict this assessment. For example, he voiced his extreme views online, suggesting in a 2020 post that violent attacks were necessary to combat the government.
The shooting incident occurred on July 13, 2024, when Trump was addressing a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Interestingly, while the FBI claimed they had no knowledge of Crooks prior to the shooting, a Congressional report failed to address the recently uncovered social media posts. Previously, FBI Director Christopher Wray had indicated that Crooks wasn’t on their radar.
Despite these denials, unsettling patterns seemed to emerge in Crooks’ behavior, and Leavitt conveyed that Trump has sought clarity on the events surrounding the assassination attempt. She mentioned that Trump had reached out to the Secret Service and the FBI, seeking a detailed update on what transpired.
Leavitt noted, “It’s very personal for him,” adding that he had been briefed on the matter and questioning his level of satisfaction with the answers provided.
These new reports have highlighted Crooks’ online presence, which exhibited a dramatic shift in attitudes. Once a vocal Trump supporter, by 2020, he began to express a desire for violent upheaval in politics, visible on various social platforms.
Interestingly, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) commented on his frustrations with the FBI, stating that he had faced obstacles in obtaining information and ultimately had to issue a subpoena to access the report and evidence related to the case.
