In a candid admission, Vice President JD Vance has revealed he possesses no understanding of why Thomas Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. This confession comes despite his previous firm commitment to unravel the mystery behind what has been described as the most significant security failure since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Vance's Public Concession on Motive
During an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Vance was directly questioned about Crooks' motivations for the July 2024 shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Vice President's response was starkly simple: 'I don't know.' This statement marks a notable shift from his position just five days before the presidential election, when he pledged to 'get to the bottom' of the entire case.
Shifting Blame and Explanations
In the immediate aftermath of the violent incident, Vance pointedly blamed President Joe Biden's campaign rhetoric, which he claimed portrayed Trump as a fascist. He asserted at the time that 'That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.' However, when pressed more recently about responsibility for the investigation's glaring gaps, Vance redirected blame toward the gunman himself.
He characterized Crooks as a 'loner who got radicalized on the internet,' noting the assailant left behind minimal clues. Vance detailed a perplexing ideological shift, stating, 'He was a Trump guy at some point in his life and then about six months or so before he took a shot at the President of the United States, or maybe it was a little bit beforehand, he went from very radically pro-Trump to very radically anti-Trump.'
FBI Investigations Yield No Clear Answers
The Vice President confirmed that his discussions with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have produced no conclusive findings regarding the gunman's precise motivations. 'I have not gotten a satisfactory answer to how Thomas Crooks went from radically pro-Trump to so radically anti-Trump,' Vance admitted. He further speculated that 'Maybe we will never know the answer to that - sometimes motivations go unsolved.'
Despite this uncertainty, Vance emphasized that law enforcement authorities will continue probing the case. The unresolved mystery fueled numerous claims during the election campaign, including allegations that Trump was targeted by a so-called deep state conspiracy. Some within the President's inner circle even suggested potential foreign power involvement in the attempted assassination.
Official Investigation Conclusions
In November 2024, the FBI announced its official verdict after an extensive eight-month investigation conducted by the Trump administration. The agency concluded that Crooks had acted entirely alone. This finding was publicly delivered by Kash Patel and Dan Bongino during a Fox News appearance.
Bongino stated definitively, 'We have reviewed this case over and over - looked into every nugget. We have spoken to the families, the President - there is no cover-up here. There is no motive for it, there is no reason for it.' The case has now been placed in a 'pending, inactive' status, meaning further investigation would only occur if credible new information emerges.
The Violent Incident and Its Aftermath
The assassination attempt unfolded during a packed campaign rally where Crooks opened fire, striking Trump's ear. The would-be assassin was fatally shot moments later by a Secret Service sniper. In a remarkable display of defiance, Trump raised his clenched fist while being surrounded by bodyguards, shouting to his supporters: 'Fight, fight, fight.'
The shooting tragically claimed the life of firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed while shielding his wife and their two daughters from the gunfire. Two additional spectators were also struck by Crooks' bullets during the chaotic event.
