Former President Donald Trump expressed his desire for answers seven months following an assassination attempt on his life during a July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“I want to uncover the truth,” Trump stated while signing an executive order at the White House on Thursday. “I’ve communicated that. We can no longer put the blame on [former President Joe] Biden for this incident. He should have disclosed it much earlier.”
Gunman Thomas Crooks, age 20, tragically shot rally attendee Corey Comperatore dead and severely injured two others, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, in his lethal attempt on Trump, who was grazed by a bullet near his ear.
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, is rushed offstage after being shot during a rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
SECRET SERVICE KNEW AIRSPACE PROTECTION WOULD END WITH FORMER PRESIDENT ONSTAGE
The summary of the investigation indicated that the rally represented a “failure for the Secret Service” that required “multiple operational, policy, and organizational changes.”
Two months later, Trump endured a second assassination attempt while golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Ryan Routh allegedly tried to assassinate Trump and is currently held in federal custody.
During a Q&A with media in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump informed Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy that a report concerning both incidents would be forthcoming next week.
“I aim to release it,” Trump said.
SECRET SERVICE REJECTED LOCAL DRONE ‘REPEATEDLY’ BEFORE TRUMP’S JULY 13 RALLY: WHISTLEBLOWER
“[Crooks] had three [cellphone] apps, two of which were foreign, and who possesses the largest white-collar law firm in Pennsylvania, despite not living in an upscale area?” Trump pondered. “What does that imply?”
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, speaks at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
SECRET SERVICE, FBI RESPOND TO TRUMP RALLY VIDEO SHOWING FIGURE ON ROOF MINUTES BEFORE GUNFIRE
He mentioned that Routh, age 58, allegedly owned multiple cellphones.
“The other individual had seven or six cellphones, and I don’t possess six cellphones,” Trump remarked. “Why would anyone need six cellphones? We will be sharing a report on that shortly. It’s an excessive number of cellphones, and some had unusual markings.”
Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. of the U.S. Secret Service addresses the media at a press conference providing updates on the investigation regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Fla., Sept. 16, 2024. (Mega for Fox News Digital)
Highlighting the insufficiency of information regarding the situations, the president remarked, “it makes me think a little bit.”
“When you have three apps and two are foreign, and an FBI unwilling to report on it — seeking to hide the reasons — that seems suspicious to me,” Trump stated.
He also emphasized the Secret Service’s quick actions to apprehend Routh, who was seen allegedly aiming a rifle at one of Trump’s security personnel from bushes.
Ryan Routh, the suspect in the Trump assassination attempt, seen in police bodycam footage being arrested on Sept. 15, 2024, in Florida. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I am keen to uncover the facts and I would be open to releasing the findings,” Trump stated. “Perhaps there are reasons not to. I don’t want to jump the gun. But yes, I would definitely want to see that information myself.”
Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
