Instant
Dec 15, 2025

FBI Refutes Tucker Carlson Allegations About Attempted Trump Assassin

The FBI is pushing back on claims made by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, rejecting his assertion that the bureau “lied” about details surrounding Thomas Crooks, the would-be assassin who attempted to kill President Donald Trump in 2024. Carlson had alleged that the FBI falsely stated Crooks had “no online footprint,” and he promised to release evidence disproving that claim, Newsweek reported.

The FBI Rapid Response account on X refuted Carlson’s accusation. “This FBI has never said Thomas Crooks had no online footprint. Ever,” the account wrote.

More than a year after the July 13, 2024, shooting, relatively little information has been publicly released about Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman who opened fire on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Crooks fired eight rounds from an AR-15-style rifle while positioned on a nearby rooftop, killing one audience member and injuring two others before grazing Trump’s ear.A member of the U.S. Secret Service Counter Sniper Team returned fire and killed Crooks within seconds. The attack exposed major security failures and ultimately led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle

An independent panel reviewing the incident later concluded the agency required “fundamental reform.”

On Friday at 8:00 a.m. ET, Carlson posted a 35-minute video on X that he claimed contained material the FBI “has worked hard to make sure you haven’t seen.”

The footage included a clip Carlson said came from Crooks’ Google Drive showing the gunman dry-firing a weapon in a room with paper targets taped to the wall.

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