Shocking Claims Emerge in Trump Assassination Investigation
A groundbreaking investigation by Tucker Carlson has sent shockwaves through political circles, alleging that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, may have had connections to a foreign terrorist organisation.
The former Fox News host released a 34-minute video delving into the digital history of the 20-year-old who shot at the former president during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024. The bullet came within less than an inch of penetrating Trump's skull, nearly claiming his life.
The Digital Trail of a Would-Be Assassin
Carlson's team uncovered YouTube comments allegedly posted by Crooks between 2019 and 2020, revealing a dramatic ideological shift from supporting Trump to embracing far-left views. The investigation stemmed from a tip from an anonymous source who accessed Crooks' wiped social media accounts.
During the final phase of his YouTube activity in 2020, Crooks began interacting with a suspicious user known as 'Willy_Tepes', who appeared to encourage political violence. On August 4, 2020, Tepes wrote to Crooks: 'If a gun and a badge is all that is needed, then authority obviously comes from the barrel of a gun. We have more guns than they do ;)'
He added: 'There is no way we can avoid a war at this point, so you just better get used to the idea.'
Carlson claims Tepes's name appears on a foreign Antifa website linking him to the Nordic Resistance Movement - a neo-Nazi group based in Scandinavia that the US State Department has designated as a terrorist organisation.
Radicalisation and Violent Intent
Around early 2020, Crooks' political views underwent a dramatic transformation toward left-wing ideology. In January 2020, he attacked Trump for his 'stupidity' and mocked Trump supporters for sounding like a 'cult'.
Most alarmingly, Carlson's investigation uncovered comments where Crooks allegedly outlined methods for conducting 'terrorism-style attacks' against the US government. He reportedly wrote: '[In my opinion] the only way to fight the [government] is with terrorism style attacks, sneak a bomb into an essential building [and] set it off before anyone sees you, track down important people/politicians/military leaders etc and try to assassinate them.'
The investigation also retrieved a never-before-seen clip from Crooks' Google Drive account showing him dry firing a handgun in a bedroom.
Political Fallout and FBI Response
MAGA influencers and lawmakers have reacted with outrage to Carlson's findings, demanding greater transparency from FBI Director Kash Patel's investigation. More than a year after the assassination attempt, the FBI has yet to release a clear motive for why Crooks tried to shoot Trump or whether he acted alone.
Tennessee Republican Representative Tim Burchett made extraordinary claims during an interview reacting to Carlson's report, suggesting Crooks was 'programmed' by the CIA through MKUltra-style mind control programmes. 'They programmed this kid. You got a kid who's got access to guns or has some simple knowledge of a firearm, he was programmed,' Burchett stated.
In response to Carlson's reporting, Kash Patel issued a statement claiming the Bureau collected extensive data from Crooks but maintained that Crooks had limited online use and acted alone. Patel wrote: 'The investigation, conducted by over 480 FBI employees, revealed Crooks had limited online and in person interactions, planned and conducted the attack alone, and did not leak or share his intent to engage in the attack with anyone.'
Following his online interactions with Tepes, Crooks' YouTube commenting activity abruptly ended, leaving unanswered questions about the full extent of his radicalisation and potential coordination with others.
