Post Reports: Trump Was Shot a Year Ago. Why Do We Still Know So Little?

Podcast Information:

• Title: Post Reports
• Host/Author: The Washington Post
• Episode: Trump was shot a year ago. Why do we still know so little?
• Release Date: July 13, 2025

Hosts:

• Colby Ikowicz
• Carol Lennig (Guest, Investigative Reporter)

1. Introduction and Context

On the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, Post Reports delves into the lingering mysteries surrounding the attack. Host Colby Ikowicz engages in an in-depth conversation with investigative reporter Carol Lennig to explore the limited understanding of the gunman's motives and the security failures that allowed the incident to occur.

2. The Incident and Initial Investigation

Colby Ikowicz begins by recounting the day of the shooting:

"One of the days from last year that stands out most clearly in my mind is the day Donald Trump was shot." ([00:34])

The incident occurred during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was shot by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Despite extensive investigations, the motive behind Crooks' actions remains largely unclear.

Carol Lennig describes Crooks as follows:

"Thomas Crooks is the classic profile of a mass shooter... but he didn't leave a manifesto or any document explaining his motives." ([02:17])

Unlike previous presidential assassins like John Hinckley Jr. or Arthur Bremer, Crooks did not provide any clear ideological or personal motive through writings or communications, making his actions particularly enigmatic.

3. Unraveling Crooks' Background

Over the past year, Carol Lennig has uncovered various facets of Crooks' life:

• Dual Life: Crooks was both an exemplary student and someone deeply engrossed in violent ideologies. He maintained high academic performance while simultaneously researching explosives and attending shooting ranges.

  "He was an enthusiastic dean's list kid with great grades... and on the other hand, he was researching Biden and Trump events maybe 60 times before he became fixated." ([04:06])

• Political Ambiguity: Crooks did not exhibit a strong or consistent political ideology. He supported both Democratic and Republican causes at different times, making it difficult to pin his motives on partisan lines.

  "He didn't have a very strong or strident ideology... he just liked to debate back and forth the policies of Republicans and Democrats." ([06:24])

• Social Isolation: Investigators found no evidence of close friends or confidants in Crooks' life, suggesting he may have been a loner, which aligns with typical profiles of mass shooters.

  "The FBI could not find anyone that would define themselves as a friend of his." ([07:25])

4. Investigating Foreign Connections: The Iran Angle

Early suspicions arose that Crooks might have ties to foreign adversaries, particularly Iran, especially given Trump's adversarial stance towards the country. Carol Lennig explains:

"The US government began sifting through NSA intelligence... They suspected he might be a recruit of a foreign adversary, particularly Iran." ([04:06])

An Iranian operative named Asif Merchant was arrested shortly before the shooting, raising concerns about potential ties. However, extensive investigations found no substantive evidence linking Crooks to Iran.

"Everyone I've spoken to who's been involved in this case has ruled it out... there was no element, no evidence to connect Crooks to Iran anywhere." ([10:46])

Despite the initial fears, authorities concluded that Crooks acted alone without foreign assistance.

5. Trump's Perspective and Response

The shooting had a profound impact on Donald Trump, intensifying his focus on national security and particularly on Iran.

"He is extremely mindful that Iran, ever since he authorized the 2020 strike to kill... it is on his mind." ([12:01])

Trump has expressed that surviving the attempt was divine intervention and has continued to take extraordinary security measures to protect himself against perceived threats.

6. Secret Service Failures and Security Lapses

A critical aspect of the investigation highlights significant lapses within the Secret Service, which failed to adequately protect Trump during the rally.

Colby Ikowicz questions Carol Lennig about the security failures:

"It remains stunning to me that this guy was able to kind of survey the area outside the rally, get himself to a roof, and take a shot." ([16:12])

Carol Lennig elaborates on the shortcomings:

"Donald Trump wasn't a president, he was a presidential candidate. And so he automatically got a lot less help... the Secret Service treated it as just another event." ([17:29])

These lapses include insufficient protection measures and inadequate preparedness, despite prior warnings from the National Security Council about potential threats.

7. Current State and Future of Secret Service Protections

In response to the Butler incident, the Secret Service has announced a major reorganization aimed at enhancing presidential security. However, Carol Lennig remains skeptical:

"They say they're doing this massive reorganization... I have not seen that with my own eyes yet." ([22:49])

She emphasizes the need for tangible changes and increased accountability to prevent future security breaches.

8. Conclusion

Despite a year passing since the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, many questions remain unanswered regarding the gunman's motives and the security failures that occurred. The investigation, led by reporters like Carol Lennig, underscores the complexities involved in unraveling such high-profile incidents and the imperative to strengthen protective measures for national leaders.

Notable Quotes:

• Colby Ikowicz: "It was stunning that Crooks was able to graze Trump's ear, get off eight shots from a building..." ([17:29])

• Carol Lennig: "If we don't get serious about protecting the president... we're just courting disaster." ([21:20])

For a deeper dive into the ongoing impacts of the Butler shooting and related investigations, subscribe to Post Reports and explore The Washington Post's comprehensive coverage of these critical issues.