FBI Faces New Wave of Public Criticism After Online Clash Over Trump Assassination Attempt Suspect
Political tension rose after a debate resurfaced online about what federal investigators know about 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 2024 Trump assassination attempt. Tucker Carlson, a conservative commentator, accused the FBI of lying about Crooks’ online presence. His claims drew strong reactions on social media.
Carlson denied the FBI’s claim that Crooks had no online presence, calling it unlikely for a digital native. He claimed in a new episode that federal investigators were hiding the gunman’s motives. The FBI’s new rapid-response channel later denied Crooks’ online presence. Users debated why the agency needed a dedicated account to fight misinformation.
However, the clarification did not calm critics. Journalists, commentators, and lawmakers said early FBI statements described the investigation differently. Many noted that senior FBI leadership’s claim about investigators “seeing nothing” online about Crooks contradicted their latest claim. Others wondered how a young adult with years of internet access could remain invisible, refuting high-profile digital patterns.
The shooter’s motives were unclear, causing frustration. Federal authorities found a Crooks-related social media account with hundreds of comments months earlier. Investigators said the account was unverified, but some posts showed extreme political views, antisemitism, and immigrant hostility. The comments may have been Crooks’ increased public skepticism and speculation about investigation inconsistencies.
The incident remains one of the most disturbing political attacks in recent years. Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper at a Butler, Pennsylvania, campaign rally in July 2024. Firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed, two others injured, and Trump’s ear was shot. Later government reviews found significant security planning and response failures, resulting in Secret Service suspensions and widespread scrutiny of the breach.
Debate resumes as political hostility and institutional distrust rise. Tensions rose when a Florida jury convicted Ryan Routh for a second Trump attack months after the Butler shooting. Routh could receive a life sentence this year after denying the charges. The two incidents raised national concerns about political violence and how federal agencies disclose sensitive investigative information.
While online arguments continue, the FBI’s public messaging is monitored. Some Americans want more information about what investigators know, while others say the rapid-response effort shows agencies are finally addressing misinformation. As political emotions rise, the dispute over Crooks’ online history has become another flashpoint in an already polarized environment, leaving many unclear about the full story behind one of modern politics’ biggest security breaches.
Sources
Information based on reporting from major U.S. news outlets, public statements from federal officials, and verified social media commentary related to the investigation.
