Featured Image Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Police, Crime, Gun Crime, Barack Obama
Ella Scott
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Police, Crime, Gun Crime, Barack Obama
Social media has descended into chaos as users accuse Donald Trump’s assassination attempt of being ‘staged for PR’.
Yesterday (July 13), former US President Trump, 78, became a gun crime victim after a man identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fired rounds at his outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Following the incident, the Apprentice star took to Truth Social and wrote that a bullet from the now-neutralised shooter had ‘pierced the upper part of [his] ear’ and that ‘much bleeding’ had taken place.
Advert
Acting quickly, Secret Service agents ushered the father-of-five from the outdoor rally, but not before Trump pumped his fist in the air in defiance, which may have added to the rumours of it being staged.
He was later checked into hospital before being discharged and returning to his home in New Jersey, as per the FBI.
Earlier today, (July 14) officials released a statement confirming five shots in total had been fired by Crooks, who is now deceased.
“US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated,” they added.
Since the initial incident, a myriad of eyewitnesses have come forward with information regarding the attempted assassination.
One man recounted how he informed police that there was a shooter on the roof near the rally, while another woman alleged that Trump saved his own life by ‘turning his head’ to look at a chart.
The FBI has confirmed that the attack left one spectator dead and two critically injured and that an investigation into the killer’s motive is yet to be revealed.
However, many users of X, formerly known as Twitter, have jumped into the foray and have come to their own conclusions regarding the event.
Many believe that the assassination attempt was fake, with one naysayer writing: “Blood, but no wound? Not 1 drop of blood on Trump's or anyone else's clothes? Trump's white shirt collar doesn't have even 1 drop of blood, when theres a gunshot wound inches away? Seems faked."
Another wrote: “Why is Donald Trump giving the shooter a perfect headshot immediately after an attempted presidential assignation? Unless it’s staged…”
“I am 100% a Donald Trump getting shot truther. I have no idea what happened but it was definitely fake and staged,” claimed someone else.
However, many other social media users were quick to jump to the former President’s defense, with one commenting: “Donald Trump would be dead by now. That slight turn saved him.
“For those imagining it was staged, you need to understand Trump enjoys government security service, which protects the president and high-ranking officials. If that's the case then it means Trump's team has already infiltrated the security service of the US.”
A second penned: “It wasn’t staged. Stop it. #DonaldTrump.”
“For those saying it was staged for PR. Nobody would ever make a fake attempt to hit somebody’s ear. It’s too close,” commented another user. “The leg maybe, or missing the stage. But the ear, less than an inch to the head? Come on be real.”
Former US President Barack Obama has since taken to social media to have his say on the incident, writing to his 131.7 million X followers: “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.
“Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”