On November 14th, a video from Tucker Carlson brought to light new information regarding Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
In his 34-minute video, Carlson highlighted three significant points:
1. The FBI reportedly concealed a lengthy digital trail filled with extremist posts across several platforms, such as Discord, Snapchat, and YouTube, even as they inaccurately stated that the individual had no online presence.
2. Initially, Crooks was a pro-Trump teenager espousing far-right views, but he shifted dramatically in 2020, voicing aggressive anti-Trump sentiments and making threats of assassination, beheadings, and bombings.
3. He was allegedly influenced online by neo-Nazi individuals linked to a U.S.-designated terrorist group, which the FBI was investigating. Carlson asserted that both Christopher Wray and Trump’s appointee, Kash Patel, have concealed the full details of Crooks’ background and motives.
Following these revelations, Glenn Beck expressed that there are six crucial questions Americans need to find answers to.
FBI’s oversight of online activity
Glenn raised doubts about the FBI’s dismissal of Crooks’ troubling online behavior.
While supporting Trump, Crooks directed his aggressive remarks mainly towards Democratic officials, openly wishing for their deaths. Beck noted that this occurred when Joe Biden’s FBI was allegedly monitoring social media more closely than ever before, pointing out the inconsistency in the agency’s responses to serious threats.
Shift in ideology: From MAGA to plotting assassination
Carlson’s documentary pointed out that in 2020, Crooks’ online behavior underwent a noticeable ideological change. His violent comments were now directed at Trump and his supporters, criticizing the President’s handling of the pandemic and the subsequent anti-lockdown protests.
However, the FBI’s report on Crooks failed to acknowledge this part of his political evolution.
Grooming by a neo-Nazi figure
Around the same period as Crooks’ ideological shift, a mysterious online figure known as Willy Tepes, alleged to be a neo-Nazi groomer connected to a terrorist organization, began encouraging him. Tepes supported Crooks’ violent rhetoric and wild ideas.
Glenn highlighted the absence of FBI intervention, mentioning that despite the agency’s monitoring of various extremist groups, nothing was done to address the threats posed by Crooks.
Furthermore, in the days before the assassination attempt, Crooks reportedly searched for information on Trump’s name, assassination methods, and how to evade police fire.
“This should have raised alarms, but there was silence,” Glenn remarked, indicating the FBI’s failure to act.
Doubts about Trump’s FBI
One of the more unsettling aspects of Carlson’s video was the revelation that Trump’s FBI appeared to keep Crooks’ alarming history under wraps.
“I get if it’s Biden’s FBI,” Glenn questioned, “but why didn’t Trump’s FBI act promptly?” He referred to Dan Bongino’s claims that Crooks had little online footprint, which only exacerbates the mystery.
He metaphorically compared the FBI to an iceberg, suggesting there’s more beneath the surface than is visible to the public.
Rapid cremation of Crooks’ body
The FBI allegedly coordinated the quick cremation of Crooks’ body within ten days post-assassination attempt.
“You don’t do that with presidential assassination attempts. It raises questions,” Glenn added.
Essential Questions Arising
1. Why did the FBI deny Crooks had significant online activity when the opposite seems true?
2. Why did they only present part of Crooks’ political history, omitting his anti-Trump rhetoric?
3. Why did the FBI maintain its initial narrative even after Trump’s election and Patel’s appointment?
4. Why were Crooks’ violent rhetoric and suspicious search history overlooked by the government?
5. Why was there a premature cleanup of the investigation, allowing for rapid cremation?
6. Why do the FBI’s errors often lead to concerns about negligence or political narrative shaping?
“There’s something deeply troubling about this. I can’t trust the official line,” Glenn asserted, suggesting these inquiries are about accountability rather than political bias.
“If these issues aren’t resolved, we risk losing our democratic foundation.”
For further commentary from Glenn, view the video above.
