Viral footage of Trump assassin fuels ‘inside job’ conspiracies

The latest video of Thomas Matthew Crooks setting himself up to assassinate Donald Trump fuels conspiracy theories.

Donald Trump faced an assassination attempt at his rally in Pennsylvania when shots were fired, leading to conspiracy theories on social media.

Supporters have rallied behind Trump, while some speculate the shooting was “staged.” Theories suggesting an “inside job” are gaining traction, with videos showing the alleged shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, crawling on a roof "for nearly a minute" and being pointed out by the crowd to police.

NEW - Trump Assassin video shows him crawling on the roof while multiple people point him out to police

They yelled about him for *almost an entire minute*

It’s insane how Secret Service allowed this amateur to almost kill Trump pic.twitter.com/CWfHBGzOCp

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) July 15, 2024

One user on X, formerly Twitter, said, “It’s starting to look less and less like incompetence and more and more like… something else.”

It’s starting to look less and less like incompetence and more and more like… something else 🤔

— Ian Carroll (@Cancelcloco) July 15, 2024

Another user added, “100% inside job. They allowed him to do this.”

100% inside job. They allowed him to do this.

— Brenden Dilley (@WarlordDilley) July 15, 2024

Another user expressed frustration, “HOLY C**P: It looks like potentially THREE police officers were watching as the shooter was crawling into place. Trump should have been evacuated from stage IMMEDIATELY. This is a MASSIVE FAILURE on all levels.”

HOLY CRAP:

It looks like potentially THREE police officers were watching as the shooter was crawling into place.

Trump should have been evacuated from stage IMMEDIATELY.

This is a MASSIVE FAILURE on all levels. pic.twitter.com/i1u2N6r96n

— Evan Kilgore 🇺🇸 (@EvanAKilgore) July 15, 2024

On July 13, 2024, Trump was speaking near Butler, Pennsylvania, when Crooks, 20, fired eight rounds from an AR-15–style rifle, injuring Trump and two audience members, and killing Corey Comperatore. Trump was treated for his injuries and later released a statement thanking his supporters and condemning the attack.

According to witness accounts, the crowd reacted in panic, creating chaos as security attempted to control the situation. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper shortly after the shots were fired. The FBI is investigating, with Crooks’ motives still unknown.