“Reflect Antisemitic and Anti-Immigration Themes”: New Details Emerge on Trump’s Would-Be Assassin
(Photo via driver’s license database first uploaded by NBC News)
Donald Trump’s would-be assassin, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, has left investigators with scant clues regarding his motive and political leanings. However, a new piece of information was revealed by the Secret Service chief on Tuesday.
The new acting U.S. Secret Service Director, Ronald Rowe, along with FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, testified before the Senate, providing insights into the ongoing investigation. In his opening statement, Abbate disclosed that the FBI had uncovered social media accounts linked to Crooks, which contained about 700 “extreme” comments made around 2019 and 2020.
Abbate stated, “According to his statement, those ‘appear to reflect antisemitic and anti-immigration themes’ and ‘espouse political violence.'” This revelation marks a significant development in understanding the mindset of the attacker, as per reports from the Washington Post.
Rowe corroborated these findings, saying, “Some of these comments, if ultimately attributable to the shooter, appear to reflect antisemitic and anti-immigration themes, to espouse political violence, and are described as extreme in nature.”
He added, “While the investigative team is still working to verify this account to determine if it did, in fact, belong to the shooter, we believe it important to share and note it today, particularly given the general absence of other information to date from social media and other sources of information that reflect on the shooter’s potential motive and mindset.”
The testimony from Rowe and Abbate highlighted the challenges investigators face in piecing together Crooks’ motivations. Despite the large volume of online comments, there has been a noticeable lack of other information from social media and other sources that could provide a clearer picture of his intentions.
The Senate hearing underscored the complexity and gravity of the case, as authorities continue to sift through Crooks’ digital footprint to ascertain the full extent of his beliefs and potential influences. The antisemitic and anti-immigration themes found in his social media comments point to a deeply troubling ideology that may have driven him to target the former president.
As the investigation progresses, both the Secret Service and the FBI remain committed to uncovering all possible links and motivations behind the assassination attempt. This case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive and dangerous nature of online extremism and its potential to incite real-world violence.
