Idk, I just don't buy that he's some crazy alt right whacko. NYT said his dad is a libertarian, his mom a Dem and they lived in a middle to upper middle class area. And if he is some neo-Nazi shithead, why was he trying to kill Trump? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/us/politics/trump-gunman-thomas-crooks.html
When you've reached the point of actually grabbing a rifle and shooting at a Presidential candidate, your actions aren't entirely rational, so there's definitely going to be a gap somewhere in his thinking. We don't know what his motives are yet (and we may never know) but there's plenty of possible motivations that would fit, given the reality distortion that internet rabbit holes are capable of.
It’s also being said that the kid was in a BlackRock advertisement, so let’s just add that into the craziness too.
BlackRock has reached that WEF-tier of conspiracy nuttery where you don't even have to allege an actual conspiracy theory any more. You just point out the vaguest most tenuous connection, and just assume the blanks will be filled in for you.
Some neo-Nazi & white supremacist literature suggests an event like yesterday's attempt will start a 2nd US civil war or a race war. There are consumers of that media that think if they (or a fellow believer) acts as a false flag, they'll be the catalyst to finally get the civil war started.
Couple of thoughts: It's weird he only got off one shot with an AR. It's weird he was immediately killed. Not unexpected, but slightly weird. It's weird this happened in one of the most purple, mid-tier suburbs of the most important swing state in this election. Like, I know Trump is going to campaign where he needs to win, but he's held rallies in very solid red territory as well. Trump's fist in the air moment is probably THE IMAGE of the 2024 election. It's fucking iconic, and the fact that he knew to do it is...weird. I worry that the Secret Service will have to account for how the shooter exploited what liability in their security, and what system of checks failed to catch it. There is no world where the Secret Service has to publicly explain how they go about security at a Trump rally and it works out well for everyone. It's weird we haven't seen a social media history/diet, a manifesto, etc. yet. It's weird this happens shortly after the CEO of Twitter and world's richest man pledge to support Trump. Weird, weird, weird.
Conspiracy theorists don’t even need to make a point anymore. The “rubbing your chin” emoji is the coin of the realm.
The full FEC report shows that the zip code and street address match the shooter. Weirdly it's down as Pittsburgh, despite the fact that the listed zipcode is for Bethel Park, not Pittsburgh. source: https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202102049425405473
Color me shocked a government agency drops the sole single purpose ball. I was really shocked entering the corporate world how often complete incompetence on every level doesn’t always mean a more competent company wins out. Half assedry abounds yet still leaders in a given industry. How most people people/companies/agencies etc coast on mediocrity and have no real drive for excellence. Shit like this happens and it goes to the old internet saying, “don’t ascribe to malice what can easier explained by stupidity.” Secret Service is supposed to be the gold standard but what really is the current work/leadership culture really like?
Everything I've read says he fired eight shots. Trump was nicked in the ear and there was one dead and one injured in the crowd. I don't think one bullet did all that. Edit: there were two wounded.
That's actually a vapor trail left by the bullet. It's the same concept you see in high speed passes by fighter jets, just on a much smaller scale.
It looked to me that when he first stands up, he has a "holy fuck, I almost died" look and then I swear I see a look come over his face and then he looks defiant and raises his fist.
And we won't see it unless it supports the right narrative; see the Nashville shooter. I think it's kind of funny that he's a registered Republican, but that doesn't mean much. I'M a registered Republican, but that's just so I can pick candidates during the primaries; I voted for Nimarata Haley this year, just as a "fuck you" to Trump.
Rumor mill has it supposedly about Epstein since Trump's name came up several times with regards to pedophilia and sex trafficking. Would explain why a lot of the usual media is being very careful and mum about it.
I’d buy that. He’s at a rally, he gets up freaked the fuck out and the crowd starts roaring. Then adrenaline and showmanship combine into Trumpiness.
So my conspiratorial friend posted this today: The way it ends - that “the government is not your friend, nobody is coming to save you” stuff - that’s probably what the shooter was reading.