Conspiracy Theories swirled on social media as Americans tried to piece together what happened at the Pennsylvania rally where a 20-year-old attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, social media users falsely identified the shooter and debated whether the assassination attempt was staged by the right or the left.

The posts sparked confusion and abuse even as legitimate details about the events emerged. Conspiracy theories swirled from across the political spectrum within minutes of the attempt, claiming without evidence that the shooting had been arranged by Trump’s rivals or faked entirely.

The FBI confirmed that Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, shot at Trump from a nearby building’s roof with an AR-style rifle that had been legally purchased by his father.

Secret Service members shot and killed Crooks almost immediately after he fired several rounds. The FBI stated that it appears he acted alone, but cautioned that it is early in the investigation. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear, and one rally attendee was killed and two others were wounded. Crooks’ motivation remains unclear.

The Social Media Circus

The flurry of false information swirling online emphasises the need for news consumers and social media users to consider multiple reliable sources when reading and sharing information.

“It’s a combustible moment,” Nora Benavidez, a misinformation expert and free speech attorney, told a news channel. “This weekend really gave us a glimpse into the kinds of manipulated tactics and campaigns we need to prepare for in the coming months ahead of November.”

False claims that the assassination attempt was ordered by President Biden or other members of the “deep state” were shared on social media.

Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) posted from his personal X account that “Joe Biden sent the orders,” pointing to a quote from the president in which he said it was time to “put Trump in a bullseye.” The quote, taken out of context, occurred during a private call with donors during which the president urged them to focus their attention on Trump.

Some supporters of Trump, who has shared and inflamed numerous conspiracy theories himself, have posted on social media that they believe the shooting was coordinated by his opponents.

“This is the price you pay when you take down elite satanic paedophiles,” one account posted on X (formerly Twitter), echoing the QAnon conspiracy theory that Trump is secretly fighting against a “deep state” cabal within the U.S. government and intelligence services, supposedly composed of devil-worshipping child abusers.

The user suggested that businessman Alexander Soros, former president Barack Obama, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, and Trump’s former vice-president Mike Pence “likely” coordinated with the CIA to pull off the assassination attempt.

The account has some 30,000 followers, and the post received more than four million views and 90,000 likes, despite lacking evidence for the claim.

There is no evidence that President Biden was involved in the assassination attempt.

On Saturday evening, President Biden said he was “sincerely grateful” that Trump was recovering. On Sunday, he ordered an independent review of the rally events.

“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” the president said. “It’s sick. It’s sick. That’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. You cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

However, in X posts racking up hundreds of thousands of views, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones pushed the unfounded claim that the attack was a “deep state” assassination attempt and a “failed coup.”

The conspiracy theory was amplified in Proud Boys channels, according to a review from Advance Democracy, a nonprofit research group run by a former Senate investigator.

Secret Service Did It
Many posters shared messages baselessly alleging that a proposed Democratic bill to strip Secret Service protection from convicted felons, which would have included Trump, was evidence that the assassination was planned.

Anonymous users and out-of-context photos fuel false claims that the Secret Service intentionally allowed the shooting or withheld protection.

An anonymous user on the forum 4chan, known for trolls and misinformation, claimed to be a Secret Service countersniper and wrote that he was ordered by the head of the Secret Service not to shoot the would-be assassin.

This baseless claim then circulated to more mainstream forums. However, the Secret Service’s sniper teams did shoot and kill the gunman moments after he fired.

Some critics blamed a diversity, equity, and inclusion effort announced by the Secret Service for what they perceived as inadequate protection.

Videos and photos were taken out of context to purportedly show female agents as incompetent. For instance, a photo of a female Secret Service agent behind Trump was used to claim she chose to “cower behind” the former president instead of taking a bullet for him.

However, verified photos and video footage show the agent was part of a group surrounding Trump as he was ushered offstage.

Users on X alleged without evidence that Secret Service resources were diverted from Trump’s rally to protect First Lady Jill Biden at a campaign event in Pittsburgh—a claim denied by Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, who stated, “Protection models don’t work that way.” Guglielmi added that Trump was actually given additional protective resources “as part of the increased travel tempo” and dismissed any suggestion that resources were refused as “absolutely false.”

Elon Musk wrote on his platform X that “extreme incompetence” or “deliberate” action by the Secret Service enabled the shooter to get on the roof where he fired at Trump. His post was viewed over 90 million times.

High-engagement right-wing accounts and individual users have pointed to the assassination attempt to support the baseless theory that the Secret Service is part of a conspiracy to eliminate the former president.

These online attacks mirror those directed at the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the CDC, suggesting they have been co-opted by dangerous elites and can no longer be trusted.

Posts also falsely claimed the shooting was staged to benefit Trump politically.

As Secret Service members rushed a bleeding Trump off the stage, he paused to pump his fist in the air. An altered version of a widely shared photo of Trump in this position shows him smiling, leading social media users to claim the event was staged.

Other altered photos showed Secret Service members smiling. Even without digitally altered photos, conspiracy theorists pointed to an incident in November 2016 when Trump was rushed off the stage at a campaign rally to claim there was a lack of urgency during Saturday’s attack.

The Russian English-language publication Sputnik International amplified similar claims, suggesting that the Secret Service was “suspiciously slow.”

The theories extended beyond internet trolls.

A top political adviser to Democratic donor and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman wrote in an email to journalists that the shooting was “encouraged and maybe even staged.” He later apologized for these comments.

Photo Chaos
Photos misidentified the alleged shooter. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, social media users—including former Trump consultant and notorious “dirty trickster” Roger Stone—claimed the shooter was a Pittsburgh man who had previously pled guilty to charges after an altercation with police at an anti-Trump protest.

Others falsely identified the shooter as an “Antifa extremist” and shared a photo of an Italian sports journalist who was actually in Rome when the attack occurred.

The journalist posted on Instagram that he was woken up in the middle of the night by social media notifications, writing in Italian that the claims were “organized by a group of haters that have been trying to ruin my life since 2018, with stakeouts at my house, photos of my intercom and door.”

He mentioned that legal action against them is ongoing and that he plans to file a new complaint.

New Details Emerge in Trump Assassination Attempt Investigation

FBI investigators announced Monday that they have accessed the cellphone of the 20-year-old man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a weekend campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

An FBI technical specialist successfully unlocked the phone of suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks, allowing investigators to analyze its contents as they search for a motive behind the shooting, which left one rallygoer dead and two others wounded.

The analysis of Crooks’ phone, being conducted at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, has not yet yielded any clues about his motivations, according to an FBI official.

Investigators also completed searches of Crooks’ vehicle and home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 53 miles south of Butler Township, where Saturday’s campaign event took place.

An FBI and Department of Homeland Security bulletin revealed that two improvised explosive devices were found in Crooks’ car and one in his home.

“Over the last several months, Crooks received several packages, including some marked as possibly containing hazardous material, according to a review of his shipping history,” the bulletin stated.

Additionally, on the day of the shooting, Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition at a gun shop in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, prior to attending the rally. The specific shop was not identified in the bulletin.

The agencies cautioned that others might be inspired to commit further acts of violence.

“We cannot rule out the possibility that some DVEs or other actors may attempt follow-on or retaliatory acts of violence in response to this assassination attempt,” the bulletin warned.

Suspect Asked to Borrow Dad’s AR-15-Style Rifle
It was learned that on the day of the shooting, Crooks told his father he wanted to go to a shooting range and asked if he could borrow his dad’s AR-15-style rifle, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The father, who had occasionally allowed Crooks to go target shooting with the semiautomatic firearm, didn’t think anything was suspicious and let him use the rifle again on Saturday.

Investigators said Crooks used the rifle in the attempted assassination of Trump. The source also mentioned that Crooks recently purchased ammunition both online and in-person.

Law enforcement has been canvassing local gun shops in the Pittsburgh area for any information about Crooks’ ammunition buying habits. These shops include Allegheny Arms & Gun Works in Bethel Park, roughly a mile from Crooks’ residence.

“As a responsible member of our community, it is our prerogative to cooperate with law enforcement in every way,” Allegheny Arms said in a statement to ABC News. “We are thankful that President Trump was not assassinated, and our hearts and prayers go out to all victims of this horrible incident. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation and those affected, we will not make any further statements.”

FBI investigators have conducted nearly 100 interviews with law enforcement personnel, event attendees, and other witnesses as they work to understand what transpired at the rally, bureau officials said in a statement.

“The FBI has received hundreds of digital media tips, including photos and videos taken at the scene, and we continue to review incoming tips,” the FBI said in its statement.

Motive Still Unknown
The federal investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is focusing on the suspected gunman’s motives and whether he had any accomplices, authorities said.

In his address to the nation from the Oval Office on Sunday night, President Joe Biden stated that it remains unclear what prompted the suspect, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, to attempt such a brazen daylight attack on Trump’s life.

“We don’t know his opinions or affiliations. We don’t know whether he had help or support or if he communicated with anyone else,” Biden said. “Law enforcement professionals are investigating those questions as I speak.”

Trump was about 10 minutes into his speech at an outdoor rally on Saturday afternoon when shots rang out, followed by screams. The former president clutched his bleeding right ear and dove to the ground as Secret Service agents swarmed him, the FBI said in a statement late Sunday.

A bystander, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, a local volunteer firefighter, was killed while trying to protect his family from the gunfire, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who called Comperatore “a hero.”

The Pennsylvania State Police identified the two other rallygoers who were shot as 57-year-old David Dutch of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and 74-year-old James Copenhaver of Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

“The FBI has not identified a motive for the shooter’s actions, but we are working to determine the sequence of events and the shooter’s movements prior to the shooting, collecting and reviewing evidence, conducting interviews, and following up on all leads,” the bureau said in the statement.

Officials said the building from which the suspect fired was outside the security perimeter but was less than 400 feet from the podium where Trump was speaking.

Law enforcement sources said investigators are retracing the suspect’s steps to understand how Crooks managed to access the roof, which had been swept before the event.

Just Moments Before the Shooting
Witnesses in the crowd attempted to alert Secret Service agents to the armed suspect just moments before the shooting.

A Butler Township police officer climbed onto the roof and tried to engage the gunman, who then turned his weapon on the officer, forcing him to retreat, Butler County Sheriff Michael T. Slupe stated, adding that he was informed of the encounter by other law enforcement officials.

After being interrupted by the officer, the suspect opened fire in Trump’s direction just as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee turned his head to look at a Jumbotron, a move Trump later claimed possibly saved his life.

The gunman was shot and killed by one of four Secret Service counter-snipers positioned on rooftops around the rally, officials said. The FBI is leading the investigation of the shooting.

FBI Director Christopher Wray described the assassination attempt on Trump as “nothing short of an attack on democracy and our democratic process.”

Homeland Security Secretary: Shooter Should Have Never Gotten a Clear Shot

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who oversees the U.S. Secret Service, said Monday “Good Morning America” that the 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate Trump should never have been able to get a clear line of sight on the former president.

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos, Mayorkas emphasized that the shooting should not have happened. “George, a direct line of sight like that to the former president of the United States should not occur,” he said.

Mayorkas mentioned that an independent investigation, announced by Biden on Sunday, is already underway.

This investigation is focusing on the motive of the alleged gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who managed to get onto the roof of an agriculture building about 400 feet from the stage where Trump was speaking, investigators said.

Mayorkas’ Statement on the Independent Investigation

“We need to learn everything about the assailant, whom the Secret Service neutralized,” Mayorkas said. “We will thoroughly study the event independently and make recommendations to the Secret Service and to me, ensuring the safety and security of our protectees, which is one of our most vital missions in the Secret Service.”

Mayorkas emphasized the importance of having an “independent body” outside the Department of Homeland Security to ensure the integrity of the investigative process.

“The conclusions reached and recommendations made must have the full confidence of the government and the American public. We intend to be transparent with respect to the findings and recommendations of the independent review.”

In the aftermath of the assassination attempt against Trump, Biden promised an independent investigation, stating that the results will be made public.

Addressing Security Concerns
During the interview, Mayorkas rejected the “false” assertion that the Secret Service had rebuffed requests for additional resources for Trump’s security detail.

“We closely monitor a very dynamic threat environment. The president and the former president are consistently under threat,” Mayorkas said. “We take every single threat seriously and make security adjustments as warranted. We had enhanced security for the former president starting in June and had not received any requests for additional security measures that were rebuffed. That is false.”

Biden also ordered the Secret Service to review security plans for the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, set to start on Monday. Mayorkas expressed confidence in the security plan for the RNC.

Suspicious Devices Found
FBI investigators, led by the Pittsburgh Field Office, have searched Crooks’ home in Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh, and his vehicle, which was at the scene of the shooting in Butler.

“Suspicious devices found at both locations have been rendered safe by bomb technicians and are being evaluated at the FBI Laboratory,” the FBI said.

The AR-15-style rifle allegedly used by Crooks was legally purchased in 2013 by the suspect’s father, and the family is cooperating with the investigation.

The bureau is also analyzing the shooter’s phone. “At present, we have not identified an ideology associated with the subject,” said Special Agent Kevin Rojeck. “But I want to remind everyone that we’re still very early in this investigation.”

Secret Service Director’s Statement
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle stressed that her agency is focused on understanding how the gunman got a clear shot at Trump. She expressed confidence in the Secret Service’s security plan for the RNC.

“The Secret Service is working with all involved federal, state, and local agencies to understand what happened, how it happened, and how we can prevent an incident like this from ever happening again,” Cheatle said. “We understand the importance of the independent review announced by President Biden and will participate fully.”

Since the assassination attempt, Cheatle has been in constant contact with Secret Service personnel in Pennsylvania.

The FBI has taken over as the lead in the investigation. “I have also been coordinating with the protective detail for former President Trump and have briefed President Biden on the details of the incident,” Cheatle said.

Cheatle noted that the attempt on Trump’s life has understandably led to questions about potential updates or changes to the security at the RNC.

The agency has implemented changes to Trump’s security detail since the shooting to ensure his continued protection for the convention and the remainder of the campaign.

“I am confident in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday’s shooting,” Cheatle said.

“The security plans for National Special Security Events are designed to be flexible. As the conventions progress, and in accordance with the president’s direction, the Secret Service will continuously adapt our operations as necessary to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers, and the City of Milwaukee.”