The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.Trump arrives in Milwaukee for Republican convention
By Tim Reid, Gram Slattery and Helen Coster MILWAUKEE©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
89 Comments
kurisupisu
Well, they can say what they like.
The reality is that there was a massive failure in allowing a shooter to get into position on a roof overlooking the rally.
Even though members of the public had seen and reported the shooter to security nothing was done-why not?
Something extremely suspect occurred which needs a full investigation.
dagon
Apparently in assault rifle open carry land, though MAGA rallies ban open carry in the rally grounds proper, a man climbing to the roof of a nearby building with an assault rifle does not merit a massive police response.
https://www.news18.com/world/hes-got-a-gun-did-rallygoers-warn-police-before-gunman-opened-fire-on-trump-heres-what-eyewitness-said-8965426.html
There are a lot of contradictions, and I hope the investigation is thorough and speedy.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Going to be interesting what happens to the polls in the next two weeks. I suspect the nutter vote is already locked in for Trump, but is the Chaos Candidate also good for Biden by getting the debate off of the airwaves?
OssanAmerica
I fail to see why being the victim of failed assassination attempt automatically is going to grab the votes from those who are still undecided. All the attributes that make Trump unfit for office are still there unchanged. He's still a convicted felon and sexual abuser.
stormcrow
My 2 cents from yesterday's events . . .
First of all, the shooter was barely a man. Twenty years old, a loner and a product (Doesn't this sound familiar?) of lots of bullying at school when he was younger. If this very young man hadn't taken a shot at somebody famous, he'd have been a good candidate for a future school shooting. Which leads me to think that something is terribly amiss in the American education system, especially in the area of bullying.
As for the Secret Service, just 2 words:
Dealey Plaza
Yes, they're good people and they're passionate about protecting presidents with their lives, but they simply dropped the ball. There's no excuse for it, especially when looking back on November 22, 1963.
One other thing, it looks like it was a solitary act. No massive conspiracy, just a dumb, lonely kid who (much like one of these school shooters) wanted to become infamous. It's surprising that this 20 year old got so close to achieving his goal. John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald and now there's Thomas Matthew Crooks. Who can remember Abraham Lincoln's middle name? Or Kennedy's? Or Trump's?
NCIS Reruns
I can. He didn't have one!
ok1517
Looking at everything that happened during this alleged assassination attempt it's still kind of fishy.
But again, before drawing any conclusion, let us wait and see what the investigation reveals.
Despite all this, Trump was feeling well enough to have another round of golf yesterday without occupying Twitter too much (which was handled by junior).
We are living in a crazy world, aren't we?!
Ah_so
It will build sympathy for him from those who are undecided. Perhaps those who voted Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020.
sakurasuki
Four more years!
falseflagsteve
I’m no fan of Mr Trump but give him his dues. He’s got some courage, certainly not a girly man.
Ah_so
Let's be thankful he wasn't killed but not forget that a bystander was killed too - as is so often the case in public shootings.
While Trump mocked Peter Pelosi after his attempted murder, I am glad that Biden showed more dignity in response.
Underworld
Banthu
I don't think we can conclude that the shooter's motive were the "forces of hate". From what I understand, we do not know his motive. Maybe he had read "Catcher in the Rye" a few too many times...
Nothing is a foregone conclusion.
Agree, but what hateful and divisive rhetoric are you talking about? Most of it seems to come from MAGA.
Blacklabel
“Democrat push to replace Biden is 'over' after Trump assassination attempt, president's allies say: report”
how convenient.
Hervé L'Eisa
The assassination attempt was very nearly successful, which shows just how disturbingly incompetent the USSS was at PREVENTING the attempt in the first place. The USSS utterly failed in their job to PREVENT such an instance.
There is NO EXCUSE for having allowed the opportunity to be perched on a rooftop within the range of even the most amateur wannabe assassin.
THANK GOD that Trump turned his head just slightly, milliseconds before the shot. He would have been JFK'd as numerous folk have been clamoring for recently.
ANYONE who supports physical violence toward someone that they disagree with politically is the true danger to democracy and human decency.
WoodyLee
A sad day in US history when candidates are being shot at by a 20 years citizen, at such a young age how could hold so much hate to the point were he would wont to kill a candidate???
Something went very wrong since the day's when candidates use to walk among us shake hands and sip some coffee.
WoodyLee
I have the feeling that this is the moment Mr. Trump needed so badly to win the WH, now he is closer to it than ever.
HonestDictator
I'm glad that the assassination was botched, but all the "mistakes" made for the shooter to get into position even AFTER a witness gave warning is extremely odd.
Info is still coming out about the shooting suspect Crooke. Motives, mental state, etc...
As I said, not going to vote for Trump... EVER. I know many people who have been in active duty combat and vets that don't have the luxury of being protected by anyone in civilian life and they're far braver and more courageous.
Trump needs to rethink that whole, "Allowed to assassinate political rivals" garbage he thought he could get away with as a defensive legal excuse for "presidential immunity" without limits or properly balanced restrictions by law. This is supposedly a "lone wolf" attack... but it doesn't bode well no matter what side of the political spectrum anyone is on.
itsonlyrocknroll
OssanAmerica
Imagery, the media photo headlines, perhaps a phenomenon/form of “survivor/saviour syndrome", the failed attempted assassination, Donald Trump has attributed to an act of "god".
Whoever or whatever purpose that "god" intended.
The fist held aloft, face blooded, the definite "fight, fight, fight"
Powerful stuff, that could be seen by a US people as a fortuitous damnum fatale an act to serve a higher purpose.
Donald Trump will be "walking on water" headed to Republican convention.
Bob Pns
It absolutely merits a massive police response. In what world does pointing a gun at the former president and current presidential nominee not fall under the threat of violence? I cannot sit on my balcony and point a rifle at people and claim open carry. How do you have such a strong conviction about this without even knowing the slightest about gun laws?
Laguna
Violence never solves anything. Assassinating Trump simply would have made him a martyr in they eyes of his followers, and a carbon copy soon would have been vomited up. That said, he does share some blame due to his support for the "right" to own AR-style weapons. If the Supreme Court were as dedicated to originalism as they claim, they would restrict gun ownership to the types of weapons available at the time - non-rifled muskets.
Hervé L'Eisa
"Something went very wrong since the day's when candidates use to walk among us shake hands and sip some coffee."
Perhaps you are unaware of the assassination of RFK? Bobbie Kennedy was carrying the torch of his previously assassinated brother and he was shot and killed.
All these years later and many more of the JFK files are STILL hidden (thanks to Obama...)
Japantime
Great to see a true hero stand up and keep going. This will be the greatest election ever. All those Trump haters are very worried now. I have heard many have changed sides after his show of heroism against his opponents.
Bob Fosse
Sure. The Republican Convention is always kumbaya and throwing flower petals.
bass4funk
Maybe if the Secret Service director would have added more security this incident could have been avoided.
Same here.
Hervé L'Eisa
Victim blaming. "he does share some blame due to ..."
This is how the left operates.
itsonlyrocknroll
As media speculation gains pace to the motivations of Thomas Matthew Crooks actions, so will the cult of Trump "lucky" escape.
I wholeheartedly deplore such despicable political violence.
I am sorry to suggest that such "opportunism" is not something any Presidential candidate would or should ever pass up.
kwatt
America is a gun's country. It is a fate of America. The Republicans don't want strict gun control such as AR rifles for ordinary people. It would happen to any people in the future.
bass4funk
That’s the first one for Biden, better late than never, I suppose…
Geeter Mckluskie
When the MSM and the democrats continually paint someone as "a threat to democracy" can anyone be surprised that an incident like this not only could but more than likely would happen?
Blacklabel
All the disgustingly fake left in unison denouncing what happened and claiming to be happy Trump survived.
makes no sense to feel that way if he is literally Hitler, a fascist/racist and an existential threat to democracy.
so he is now confirmed as none of those.
And that boy is bulletproof too.
Tamarama
The US is a chronic mess, period.
Bad Haircut
MK Ultra? I doubt this program was ever shut down after it was revealed to exist. The establishment, with the Democrats presently as their face, is absolutely terrified of Trump, or more importantly, what he represents: hope in the face of technocracy and division. They've tried every trick in the book against him and he still keeps coming back. They didn't have a lot of options left. And with the assailant dead, he can't be questioned either.
There'll be a lot of backside-covering going on in the days, weeks and months ahead, but I doubt we'll ever get too deep into the truth of the background.
Jimizo
The choices in this election are extraordinarily poor.
Some optimism in that these two will not be running next time out.
Peter Neil
secret service is responsible for everything inside a venue, local police have everything outside a venue. everyone was walking around with ar-15's including national guard and local police.
no one knows who is who. the usual cluster of a police department.
rcch
Trump headed to Republican convention after surviving assassination attempt
"I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a 'shooter,' or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else. Therefore, I will be leaving for Milwaukee, as scheduled," Trump wrote…
—
Impeached. Arrested. Convicted. Shot.
Still standing.
…
Trump is the political version of Superman.
True—a lot of people from the left called him Hitler, a nazi, a “danger” to the country and someone who has to be “stopped” at all costs… (some idiots take that nonsense seriously…).
—
And yes (I agree):
yesterday—Saturday (Sunday in Japan), Trump became the 47th President of the United States.
Hervé L'Eisa
"The Secret Service is supposed to secure all obvious "sniper perches" well before the arrival of a protectee - Meaning, nearby rooftops and buildings are supposed to have a security presence in place along with drone surveillance. In the case of Butler, PA, this was apparently not done. SS snipers were only present on the building right behind the venue stage.
The lack of a security presence at the building across the field made it possible for the would-be assassin to brazenly jaunt to the location and climb to the rooftop with his rifle in broad daylight. The SS traditionally uses concentric "circles of security" going out hundreds if not thousands of yards when preparing a location for protection. Watch the video below for insight on how meticulous the Secret Service is supposed to be when preparing an area to prevent assassination attempts.
The idea of Crooks being able to get that close with an elevated position on the stage is unthinkable. Another fail was the lack of sight obstructions put in place near the stage. The Secret Service is supposed to erect barriers to block the line of sight from potential shooting locations. Again, this was not done.
Finally, there's the dismal lack of response time. Witnesses outside the event report that they saw Thomas Crooks climbing to the building rooftop with his rifle at least three minutes before he started shooting. They claim they tried to warn police and Secret Service agents to no avail. "
Former Navy Seal and Blackwater founder Erik Prince
zibala
Great display of heroism and bravery.
Hervé L'Eisa
Here is the video mentioned above. The link previously wasn't included.
https://youtu.be/D8iMBvmBNgM?si=GpGqzs44tgYUPT0G
Peter Neil
heroism and bravery? oh, my.
zibala
"I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a 'shooter,' or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else. Therefore, I will be leaving for Milwaukee, as scheduled," Trump wrote on his Truth Social site on Sunday.
This is leadership.
The world will benefit from a Trump victory too. Ukraine in particular.
WoodyLee
Mr. Trump has already won the WH after yesterdays event.
Ricky Kaminski13
Its not hard to imagine with the political climate in the states, with all that loaded rhetoric been thrown at the T man; a hitler, a rapist, a felon, a dictator, a wanna be king, a threat to democracy itself, the list goes on and on, that some other mentally unstable fool with a gun and a death wish will start fantasizing about becoming the one to finish the job. Just hope Trump makes it to the elections now, cause deep down many people still hope that he doesn’t.
WoodyLee
@zibala,
"The world will benefit from a Trump victory too. Ukraine in particular."
Not often that I agree with you!! but on this one! I DO.
zibala
@WoodyLee
I express my respect for you for stating that.
WoodyLee
Watch this interview by CNN with Rep. Cory Mills Who was a sniper himself explain how this was a Major Security Preach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APZ6IrrCrcU
kwatt
I just wonder why secret service could not stop the sniper on the roof. It is not far away (rather near) from Trump. It looks like secret service did not secure around there.
WoodyLee
@zibala,
""@WoodyLee
I express my respect for you for stating that. ""
Same here, Thank you.
bass4funk
“If” you’re a Biden or Trump hater, sure
On our side, we have Vivek, so that’s refreshing looking forward.
Underworld
I agree with Biden: until the FBI determines the motive, if they can, we should refrain from speculating.
Jimizo
Probably best.
There are certain types of Trump supporter who share his strange predilection for crackpot conspiracy theories.
You may as well ask your cat for its input in these matters.
bass4funk
I agree
WoodyLee
The shooter was about 230 yards from Mr. Trump and an expert explains that at that distance any average shooter could have easily hit the target within a 2.3 inches circle or about.
It appears that the shooter had very little or NO experience at all.
bass4funk
Still got him on the ear. Don’t need to great shot, you just have to hit the target.
ulysses
A mentally disturbed guy had access to guns, that is the problem in a nutshell!
dagon
I do not have great faith in the American electorate. They did elect Trump once, even though it was through electoral college gerrymandering.
And they vote against their own best interests all the time. Going into medical bankruptcy while railing against 'socialism' and saying billionaire Trump is fighting for the working poor.
That said the power of the imagery from yesterday and recent events is too powerful and barring some other major event the election looks to be over.
bass4funk
I don’t either given the last election and gerrymandering as well, but I think this time with all the thousands of poll watchers hired, more than 80,000 I think it will be a lot harder for anyone to cheat the system.
This is why so many minorities are leaving the DNC, they learned and many are evolving.
Which he is.
Fret not and never underestimate the Democrats. You would never do that to a wounded cornered animal as well, right?
Geeter Mckluskie
I think it's less a matter of the "undecided" as getting the "unmotivated" off the sofa and into the voting booth
Toblerone
Trump is a brave man and steady and cool under the ultimate pressure.
America needs him more than ever.
Antiquesaving
Yesterday certain people were already trying to start rumours and make accusations that Trump was again lying.
They claimed he wasn't shot by a bullet but hit by "glass" from a teleprompter.
They even claimed that the secret service had said this.
That was all false, no such statement was ever made by the secret service, and anyone can watch the videos of the shooting and see the 2 teleprompters on either side are fully intact after Trump has hit and being escorted from the stage.
These are the typical fake information and inflammatory comments that make things worse.
Again I don't like Trump but the Democrats and the anti-Trump crowd with the constant "he is Hitler", "he is a danger to democracy" "he will be a dictator" etc.... cannot be dismissed as not contributing to the hatred and paranoia towards Trump.
Yes he has said so mean things and lies nearly every time he speaks, but he insults, he mocks, but rarely says his opponents are a danger or a Hitler etc...
Both parties failed by not finding better candidates and by governing for their bases and not the country as a whole, which has lead to this situation of 2 sides yelling at each other not to each other!
Geeter Mckluskie
That...and the unfettered rhetoric of the MSM and Democrats hysterically beseeching anyone who would listen that Trump "must be stopped at all costs"...because he's "a threat to democracy"...
That and the security that saw this guy and let him get multiple rounds off killing a member of the audience
Antiquesaving
Put yourself in the place of an undecided!
You see Biden at the debate, then again at NATO, he messes up his points, he confuses people, he looks tired old.
Then you see Trump shot in the ear, bleeding, stands up first pumps and looking fully defiant.
The optics are old weak man and a strong defiant man that even being shot he still wants to fight!
I am not saying any of the above about the 2 men is true or fact, I am saying many will see things like that and that will influence many voters that are on the fence!
PTownsend
I agree, but given the anti-democracy, pro-Trump herds probably will not believe investigative findings from US intelligence agencies, they'll instead wait to see what the Kremlin and perhaps Rupert Murdoch report, which most likely will continue to be it's the fault of DEI. Replacement theory believers would probably be much better suited to live in a nation other than the US.
Underworld
I don't think I've ever seen anyone say that Trump is Hitler.
I threat to democracy, sure, but not Hitler.
Bad Haircut
Then you're not really paying attention.
bass4funk
Under this weaponized administration, not really.
What?
Why, we are not the ones trying to destroy or change it.
dmhondz
Trump camp will milk this to the last drop.
Biden needs to step aside and let a younger more capable candidate to run for the Dems.
Antiquesaving
Are you serious?
There are far too many to link here, Google it, they go back all the way to before he was elected.
Not just Democrat officials but watch MSNBC especially a certain Female RM, she never misses an opportunity to say it or insinuate it.
The other MSM did the same.
bass4funk
Yes, if they can find someone who’s centrist left and not crazy far-left perhaps then maybe they have a chance, but so far, that person hasn’t come forward.
PTownsend
I think Trump and his supporters US and abroad will do whatever they can to see Trump back in the White House, regardless what the official vote count is. I think if Trump once again does not have enough votes to legally win, he'll send his mobs to attack the capital, he wants full control of the country for himself, the Heritage Foundation and the billionaire caste, i.e the elite establishment, US and foreign.
Another worry is this killer used an AR-15, a weapon of choice for mass murderers, will we see bump stocks next time, or has the AR-15 proven to be most effective?
Wille Trump acknowledge that a couple of his supporters took bullets for him, or will he continue to make this all about him, as usual?
Bob Fosse
Anyone?
Some quotes you should read here then. Lots of them.
https://www.vox.com/21506029/trump-violence-tweets-racist-hate-speech
browny1
That the chaos that is US politics, continues to spill out over the whole world, is a black mark for true democracy everywhere.
The shooting was shocking - politicians should be able to publicly express their views without fear of death - and tragically an innocent man was killed.
Those blaming anti-Trump rhetoric as the cause of the incident are way too short-sighted in their blinkered analogies. The mocking, defiling, disparaging sensationalist propaganda spewing from the other side is no less hateful.
All are signs of a broken system. A system that has been in decline for decades. rusting in it's own belt of decay, that no-one was willing to take steps to reform for fear of being seen by the crowds as "Anti." Anti- Left, Anti-Right, Anti-Good, Anti-Business, Anti-Christ, Anti-Peace, Anti-Freedom, Anti-Poor, Anti-Rich..........Anti-Everything!
That it could come to this - preached to the world as the Great Land of the Free for decades - falls upon all US citizens to acknowledge the calamitous rabbit hole spiral downwards and seek reason, trust and compromise as a means to escape.
Prayers, Martyrs, Guns, Belligerence, False hopes et al won't cut it.
ulysses
donald and his hounds will milk this as much as they can but in the end donald is still the criminal he was yesterday, nothing changes that!
donald’s judiciary plants can protect him only so much, he will finally end up in prison!!!
bass4funk
Seems like the Dems have been doing that for 8 years now and continue to fail.
Tbh, I think the left will go ballistic if Trump wins.
Then you need to open your eyes and trying to register non-citizens to vote at the last minute is not going to help
So when the Dems tried to implement and push the 1619 project that was somehow fine? By the way, how many burnings, riot and looting have conservatives done?
Will Democrats acknowledge that their words and rhetoric uprooting the constitution and trying to deprive Americans of democracy will they continue to make it about their ideology? I’m asking sincerely.
u_s__reamer
The election is a forgone conclusion now.
So he's going to be let out for the inauguration?
Why do so many folks willfully forget he's a felon, FGS? Any oath the felonious Don takes we can only take with a bucket of salt.
plasticmonkey
The cult worship of Trump grows stronger.
Moderator
All readers, please control your emotions.
plasticmonkey
Why does this excite you so much?
bass4funk
Judiciary Plants?? What is wrong with the left? In the 2022-23 term, of the ten cases decided by a 5-4 vote, seven, let me repeat 7 resulted in what we would call liberal outcomes, so if they were real conservative plants, they’re not doing a good job at ruling favoring the constitution that conservatives care deeply about.
ulysses
ROFL, the plants have something Donald’s supporters don’t, brains. Thry are playing the long game, but unfortunately for them donald will still end up in prison!
ulysses
My biggest worry is for the country, Donald’s hounds are all worked up and with their natural inclination to violence, there are unstable times ahead!!!
Antiquesaving
Why does it bother you so much?
Even as someone that never liked Trump, I have to acknowledge that most people would have stayed well hidden, especially knowing they were the target!
Like it or not this and the rest will go down in history, just because if the clear image of defiance!
If it had been Biden doing the same, you would be saying the same as Trump supporters and saying how he showed he isn't old and feeble and how strong and defiant he was!
The attempts to downplay this by the anti-Trump people has been a sad thing to watch.
From fake information he was not shot, to saying he will milk it, to any number of crazy comments even writing his supporters will be going heil Trump.
The left coping is up there with the far right conspiracies.
Both sides have learned nothing!
dagon
You keep using that word. It does not mean what you think it means.
It is total false equivalence non sequitur . Maybe they both have 'project' in the name?
The 1619 is an educational primer for slavery, Jim Crow and yes, critical race theory for schools.
Project 2025 is a plan developed by conservative billionaire funded think tanks to bring the civil service under authoritarian presidential control , gut labor and consumer protections and put the corporate bribery funded gravy train into high gear.
MAGA really has to stop with the illogical whataboutisms.
Antiquesaving
Over compensating!?
I didn't like Trump before he was elected still don't.
But the left especially the MSM and the anti-Trump were so much in a panic, one would have thought the end of the world was coming.
It didn't! Now the rhetoric from the Dems, the left, has taken an even more panic level and now we are facing the end of the universe if Trump wins, at least that is how they make it sound!
If you and the Dems don't like Trump and possibly winning, then put in a reasonable candidate, on that will government for all and not just the special interest groups (this last part applies to both parties pandering to their fringe).