On July 13, 2024, there was chaos in Butler, Pennsylvania, as shots rang through the air at a Trump rally. In the tense moments that followed, the former president was rushed off the stage by the Secret Service. Images of him raising a fist in a show of strength as blood sprayed across his face circled the media just minutes after the attack. Trump was left mostly uninjured, with a bullet or bullet fragments just grazing his ear. 

He narrowly escaped shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who was not known to the FBI before the incident. He fired the bullets from a nearby building just outside the rally venue. He was then instantly shot down and killed by the Secret Service. 

Questions about the shooter’s motives and assistance were immediately raised. During investigation of his home, suspicious devices were found, but have since been deemed safe. Even the firearm used was cleared as a legally purchased weapon. Crooks worked as a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Administrator Marcie Grimm later shared the thoughts of his coworkers: “We are shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement.” The facility has since been cooperating with law enforcement.

Tragically, the attack resulted in the death of 50-year-old audience member Corey Comperatore. Governor Josh Shapiro ordered that all flags across the state of Pennsylvania fly at half-staff in his honor. 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver were both Pennsylvanians who were also shot but are now in stable condition. Dutch was later identified as a commandant for the Marine Corps League of Pennsylvania Inc. 

Mother and son Donna and Joe Hutz publicly spoke about their unsettling experience at the rally. They illustrated the situation as “too close for comfort” as they ducked for safety. Joe also recalls screaming at the crowd to do the same and looking up to see Donald Trump under a pile of Secret Service agents. 

In a following rally, Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance spoke out about the assassination attempt. The vice-presidential candidate said, “They couldn't beat him at the ballot box, so they tried to bankrupt him. They failed at that, so they tried to impeach him. They failed at that. So they tried to put him in prison, and they even tried to kill him," sparking a wave of controversy as he spoke against the Democratic party. 

In the wake of the assassination attempt, in a somber address to the nation, current U.S. president Biden condemned the violence and showed his support for the unfolding FBI investigation. He also accepted the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle, former Secret Service Director, who took full responsibility for the security lapse that happened on July 13. “The Secret Service will move forward with our investigatory and protective mission in a steadfast manner. We do not retreat from challenges. However, I do not want my calls for resignation to be a distraction from the great work each and every one of you do towards our vital mission," Cheatle said. She had faced overwhelming opposition since the shooting; in a public statement, Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, one of her harshest critics, even said, “First, Director Cheatle argued the Secret Service could not position counter-snipers in the location of the shooter because of the angle of the roof. This was an absurd, unacceptable, and obviously unfounded excuse. Director Cheatle also misled the Committee by claiming Trump’s security detail never requested more security,” explaining the failures leading to the attack, and called for her resignation. 

Since the incident, tensions have risen in Butler, Pennsylvania, as the city sees a major split between Republicans and Democrats. The divisions are tearing down the previously stable community. The city has adopted the former president’s words, “Fight, fight, fight” as their new motto. Democrats are being threatened and Tim Craig from the Washington Posts writes, “a Republican county commissioner told the panel’s sole Democrat that he will ‘burn in hell’ because he had been pressing before the rally to tally its costs to the county” (Craig). Without any known motivation behind the shots fired, people are left in search of answers. 

But the tension didn’t stop. Two months later, on Sunday, September 15th, Ryan Wesley Routh set out to succeed where Crook failed. Blissfully unaware, Trump was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florid,a that day, while Routh hid in the trees with his firearm. According to CNN, “A witness told investigators that Routh had dropped off a box at his home months before,” (Lybrand) It was later discovered that the box contained ammunition, a metal pipe, miscellaneous building materials, tools, four phones, and various letters. One letter, addressed to “The World” said: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”

On the day of the second attempted attack, cell phone data revealed that Routh was waiting at the golf course for almost twelve hours. While Trump was on his 5th hole, a Secret Service agent was clearing the area around the upcoming one. While on a golf cart, the agent noted a rifle sticking out of the trees and a partially obscured face. Armed, the agent jumped out of the golf cart, backed up, and fired at the movement. Routh fled the scene just moments later. 

After a hearing, he was indicted by a Miami federal grand jury. “This alleged attempted assassination of the former President at his golf course was a direct attack on our democracy. Political violence has no place in this country — not then, not now, not ever,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

Overall, the attacks shocked everyone around the nation. Many hearts go out to the deceased and injured after the first unfortunate incident. The bullets serve as a blood-stained warning of the dangers of our political climate and the inevitable outcomes of violence. 

Information retrieved from CNN, the FBI National Press Office, Fox News, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, NPR, Homeland Security, Office of Public Affairs, and USA Today