🌊 Breaking Down the Botched Assassination of Donald Trump

Two things can be true at once…

1) There will always be crazy people who do crazy things; 2) A hypercharged political environment will incite the worst in them.

That’s why it’s hard not to feel some resentment toward the media for what happened on Saturday. They created this environment. They dump fear, division, and hatred into our discourse every day. They have cranked our political thermostat to unsustainably high temperatures. We simply cannot go on like this. Roca exists to lower the temperature with calm, fact-based reporting. A national cooling is the only way forward.

We send our prayers to the Butler, PA, community — a town we drove by just a week ago — and the family of Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who was killed at the rally while shielding his family.

One final note: It’s been heartening to see an outpouring of condolences and condemnation from Democrats on social media — whether friends, family, or public figures. As much as the media would like to obscure your view, this country is full of decent people. Humanity will always transcend politics.

–Max and Max

ROCA WRAP

Assassination Attempt

The Attempt

Minutes into a rally on Saturday evening in Butler, PA – 30 miles north of Pittsburgh – 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Donald Trump from a building rooftop 150 yards away, just outside the event’s security perimeter.

Crooks appears to be a registered Republican, although Pennsylvania has a closed primary, meaning only members of a party can vote in their party’s primary. It’s conceivable Crooks registered as a Republican to do so. A Pennsylvanian with Crooks’ name made a single political donation, to a progressive organization. Authorities say they are yet to identify “an ideology associated with” Crooks but believe he acted alone.

The gun was reportedly his father’s, although Crooks’ parents said they wouldn’t speak to the media until they knew “what the hell was going on.”

As Crooks was on the rooftop preparing to shoot Trump, the AP reports that a police officer saw him. Crooks pointed his rifle at the officer, who left. It’s unclear what he did next. Separately, witnesses said they saw Crooks army crawling on the roof and tried to notify police, but the police ignored or didn’t understand the warnings.

Crooks then opened fire: One bullet went through Trump’s right ear; others killed one audience member – a retired fire chief at the rally with his daughter – and critically wounded two others.

As Trump went to the ground, a Secret Service sniper targeted and killed the shooter. As agents rushed Trump off the stage, he – bleeding from his ear – told them, “Wait,” then fist-pumped at the audience and mouthed, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

At 8:42 PM, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place.”

“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.”

“Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

The Response

Democratic leaders immediately condemned the attempted assassination on Trump

In a statement, President Biden said, “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence…It's sick. It's sick.”

He spoke to Trump on the phone later that night. The call’s contents weren’t disclosed.

While Democratic leaders – including the party’s Senate and House leaders and Barack Obama – unanimously condemned the shooting, some Trump opponents celebrated it on social media. One staffer for Rep. Bennie Thompson (D. - MS) – who headed Congress’ January 6th Commission – wrote on Facebook, “I don’t condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don’t miss next time ooops that wasn’t me talking.” The staffer was later fired.

Many Republicans blamed Democrats’ rhetoric for the assassination attempt. Numerous analysts pointed to a statement by Biden last week: “We’re done talking about the debate, time to put Trump in a bullseye."

Others pointed to the New Republic, a left-leaning magazine, whose cover this week showed Trump’s face made to hit like Hitler with the caption, “American fascism…What it would look like.”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R. - LA) said Sunday, “We’ve got to turn the rhetoric down, we’ve got to turn the temperature down on this country. We need leaders of all parties, on both sides, to call that out and make sure that happens so we can go forward and maintain our free society.”

He added, “President Biden himself said in recent days ‘it’s time to put a bullseye on Trump.’ I know he didn’t mean what is being implied there, but that kind of language on either side should be called out.”

On Sunday, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “It was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness.”

“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win. I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”

Trump was referring to the Republican National Convention, which takes place in Milwaukee, WI, this week. The event will happen as planned, with Trump speaking and likely announcing his pick for vice president.

On Sunday night, Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office.

My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics,” he said.

The attempted assassination “calls on all of us to take a step back, take stock of where we are”

"We can't allow this violence to be normalized, he continued. "The political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated. It's time to cool it down. We all have a responsibility to do that.”

“The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people, not in the hands of a would-be assassin.”

Secret Service

Officials are demanding to know how the Secret Service let a shooter get within range of Donald Trump.

The Secret Service – part of the Department of Homeland Security – is responsible for protecting former presidents and vice presidents, their children under 16, and major presidential and VP candidates within 120 days of presidential elections.

Created by Abraham Lincoln to fight money counterfeiting, it began protecting presidents after the assassinations of Presidents Garfield and McKinley in 1881 and 1901, respectively.

Since then, presidents have come under attack seven times. Only one president under Secret Service protection has been killed: JFK, in 1963. In 1981, Ronald Reagan was shot and survived. The most recent assassination attempt was in 2005 when a grenade thrown at President George W. Bush in Georgia (the country) failed to detonate.

Secret Service agents typically arrive at locations ahead of the president to scope out potential security risks. They determine where and how many agents are needed and install snipers to secure the perimeter. They did so on Saturday but failed to secure the shooter’s rooftop.

Video captured and witnesses reported seeing the attacker army-crawling on a rooftop with a rifle in the minutes before the shooting happened. One witness told the BBC that he repeatedly gestured at police to indicate that an armed man was on the roof but that they ignored or didn’t comprehend what he was saying.

Within hours of Saturday’s assassination attempt, Rep. James Comer (R. Ky.), head of the House Oversight Committee, announced the opening of a probe into the Secret Service. He called on the organization’s director to testify on July 22, saying, “There are many questions and Americans demand answers.”

On Sunday, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R.-FL) of the House Homeland Security Committee wrote, “We’re launching an investigation into the inexcusable security breaches in Pennsylvania.”

Also Sunday, a Secret Service spokesman called rumors that the agency had turned down a request by Trump for additional security “absolutely false.”

“In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo,” he wrote.

Yet in a Sunday news conference, an FBI special agent said it was “surprising” the shooter was able to get his shots off and said there will “be a long investigation into what took place.”

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KEY STORY

Alec Baldwin Case Dismissed

A New Mexico judge dismissed the criminal case against Alec Baldwin

• In October 2021, a gun Alec Baldwin was handling on the Rust movie set discharged a live bullet that killed a cinematographer. Earlier this year, New Mexico prosecutors brought a case against Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter

• On Friday, the judge dismissed the case due to “withheld evidence” because the prosecution did not share bullet evidence with the defense. The type of dismissal means the case cannot be retried, so it may never be known what actually happened

Dig Deeper

• In her dismissal, Judge Marlowe Sommer blasted the prosecution: “The state is highly culpable for its failure to provide discovery to the defendant. Dismissal with prejudice is warranted”

• Upon the announcement of the dismissal, Baldwin broke down into tears. Baldwin has maintained that he cocked the hammer of the gun but did not pull the trigger. The FBI, an independent analysis, and the maker of the gun, however, contend with Baldwin’s claim

• Nevertheless, the case will never fully unfold in a criminal court, meaning there may never be total clarity on what happened

RUNDOWN
Some Quick Stories for the Office

🏆 Spain defeated England 2–1 in Berlin to win UEFA Euro 2024, its record fourth European Championship victory, while England fell short of winning what would have been its first major soccer trophy since the 1966 World Cup

🎾 No. 3-seed Carlos Alcaraz defeated No. 2-seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets to defend his Wimbledon title in a rematch of last year’s final. No. 31-seed Barbora Krejčíková defeated No. 7-seed Jasmine Paolini to win her first Wimbledon title and second Grand Slam

🪦 Pioneering sex therapist “Dr. Ruth” Westheimer died on Friday at 96. A Holocaust survivor who moved to NYC, Dr. Ruth rose to fame in the 1980s with a live radio show where she answered call-in questions from listeners

🪦 Actress Shannen Doherty died on Saturday at age 53 after a battle with breast cancer. Doherty became a TV star as Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which premiered in 1990. She was later known for her role in “Charmed”

🪦 Fitness icon Richard Simmons died Saturday at age 76, reportedly of natural causes. Simmons rose to fame in the 1980s with his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” video series and was known for his fitness classes, videos, and books

🪦 Also Saturday, Super Bowl XLVII star Jacoby Jones died at age 40. During the 2012 divisional playoffs, Jones – an All-Pro kick returner with the Baltimore Ravens – caught the “Mile High Miracle,” a 70-yard last-minute game-tying touchdown, and in the Super Bowl, he scored two touchdowns, including a 108-yard kick return

💥 An Israeli strike targeting Hamas’ military leader – who masterminded the October 7 attack – killed a reported 90 people in Khan Yunis, Gaza. It’s unclear if Israel killed the target, who would be the highest-ranking Hamas official to be killed since the war began

COMMUNITY

🤔 Today’s Question: Where were you when Trump got shot? What was your reaction?

Reply to this email to let us know what you think!

POPCORN
Some Quick Stories for Happy Hour

🤌 Perfect Italian crime: Italian authorities confiscated $1M worth of fake olive oil. They found 71 tons of an “oily substance” marketed as “extra virgin olive oil”

⚽️ A Messi situation: Chaos outside of Hard Rock Stadium forced officials to delay the Copa America final between Colombia and Argentina by 75 minutes. Cops made multiple arrests, and some fans smuggled into the stadium

🍬 More like… Career Crushed: A government school teacher in India’s Uttar Pradesh state got arrested for playing Candy Crush on his phone during school hours

🔱 Greek God of Cancellation: Mexican authorities are removing a 10-foot-tall statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, due to complaints that it was offensive to local Maya Indigenous groups

🏀 Stat pad: Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese’s WNBA record of 15 consecutive double-doubles ended. She came 2 points shy of extending the streak, but the opponent swarmed her in the final seconds to ensure she didn’t get it

EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts

Saturday evening will go down as a “where were you when…” moment for this era of US history. At first — perhaps like for many of you — we thought the news was a joke. A friend texted at 6:23 PM, “Did Trump just get shot?” We then raced to our computers to see the news for ourselves and begin to share the footage and verified facts with our audience on Instagram as we got them.

We look forward to reading your responses to the Question of the Day. Hopefully, we’ll look back on Saturday as a low point. Time to bounce back.

–Max and Max