The FBI determined Thomas Matthew Crooks acted alone when he shot President Donald Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania, campaign rally in July 2024.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino revealed the conclusion during an interview with Fox News Digital on Thursday. The massive probe involved 485 FBI employees and more than 1,000 interviews worldwide.
Officials described it as one of the largest investigations in bureau history. “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,” Bongino said.
The investigation examined 13 electronic devices and 35 accounts linked to Crooks, including foreign-based email accounts from Germany and Belgium. Agents accessed all accounts within days of the attack, contrary to reports suggesting encryption blocked investigators. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson Alleges Trump’s Would-Be Assassin Thomas Crooks Morphed From Die-Hard Supporter To Wanting Him Dead)
Dan and I sat down with @BrookeSingman to walk through every aspect of the Butler investigation.
We fully briefed @POTUS on the entire case, and he was satisfied with the work and the results.
These are the details the prior administration never released — and in some cases… pic.twitter.com/OPufh41FUu
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) November 21, 2025
“There is no foreign connection in this case,” a senior FBI official said. “There is no individual that is outside U.S. borders or inside U.S. borders that had any role in directing him, inspiring him or assisting him in any way.”
Crooks, 20, opened fire at the rally on July 13, 2024. The bullet pierced the upper part of Trump’s right ear. Spectator Corey Comperatore died in the attack, and two others sustained injuries.
The investigation revealed Crooks made limited political statements online in 2019 and 2020, when he was 16 years old. He searched for details about Lee Harvey Oswald and the Butler rally location before the attack but left no manifesto explaining his motive.
“Where is the manifesto? The answer is — it doesn’t exist,” Bongino said.
