New information has come to light regarding the 2023 assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, with top FBI officials now publicly dismissing the notion of foreign involvement. In a recent interview on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino clearly stated that, despite a thorough investigation, the FBI found no evidence to support the theory of foreign plots in the attacks.
The discussion, led by host Maria Bartiromo, featured Bongino alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, both of whom are recent additions to the FBI leadership and known for their allegiance to the MAGA movement. Since stepping into their roles, they have extensively reviewed the available evidence related to the attempts on Trump's life. The interview shed light on why the American public has been largely kept in the dark about the details of these shocking incidents.
Bongino, recognized for his candid communication style, delivered a straightforward message that contradicts the speculation which has been rampant among conservative supporters. "I'm not going to tell people what they want to hear. I'm going to tell you the truth. And whether you like it or not is up to you," Bongino stated. He emphasized the absence of any "logical, sensible reason" to believe that the assassination attempts were part of a larger conspiracy.
The first attempt occurred on July 13, 2024, at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where 20-year-old Tomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, resulting in two fatalities and injuring Trump. The second incident happened on September 15, 2024, when 59-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh was intercepted near Trump's Palm Beach golf course. In both cases, the assailants acted alone, and no evidence linked them to foreign entities, despite widespread conjecture.
The interview also addressed why more information had not been disclosed to the public. Bongino assured that if there were any substantial findings, the FBI would have shared them. Patel, while cautious about discussing active investigations, confirmed that details might emerge during the federal court cases, particularly concerning Routh, who is still alive and undergoing legal proceedings.
This revelation dismantles several months of speculation, particularly surrounding the Butler shooting, which some believed to be part of a foreign-backed plot to target Trump prior to the 2024 election. Bongino’s and Patel’s statements offer a decisive rebuttal to such narratives, underlining the integrity of their review process and their commitment to transparency.
The conclusion reached by the FBI’s leadership duo, that there was no foreign terrorism connection to either assassination attempt, marks a significant clarification in the ongoing narrative surrounding the safety of President Trump. This announcement is likely to impact public opinion and the political discourse, as it challenges previously held assumptions and refocuses the conversation on domestic security concerns.