WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The atmosphere among Trump’s supporters was filled with reminders of his close call with assassination.

One T-shirt depicted Trump with both middle fingers raised, captioned “You missed.” Others showed him bloodied, just moments after a bullet grazed his ear, defiantly raising a fist.

As Trump made his entrance for the August 17 rally, Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” played, and the audience roared in excitement.

During later outdoor rallies, he often spoke behind bulletproof glass, but not this time, just a month post-shooting, filling an arena that held 10,000 people.

His speech lasted 103 minutes, during which he named his Democratic adversary, Kamala Harris, 58 times and criticized those pursuing legal actions against him.

Yet, one name remained unmentioned: Thomas Matthew Crooks.

Trump consistently avoids mentioning Crooks in public, even as he prepares for his first return to the site of the incident with another rally in Butler, Pennsylvania scheduled for Saturday.

This silence, according to Fred C. Trump III, the former president’s nephew, is intentional. In an interview with YSL News, he remarked, “If he finds a way to use that shooter to his benefit, he’ll do it.”

Fred C. Trump III, author of the critical book “All in the family: The Trumps and how we got this way,” believes that if Trump saw political gain in discussing the shooter, he would have already done so.

In the 12 weeks since the shooting in Butler on July 13, Trump has spoken publicly at least 51 times at various events. He has referred to the shooting at 31 of those occasions, but has only mentioned Crooks indirectly, labeling him as a “lunatic” or “evil assassin.”

Clearly, both Trump and his campaign have had to navigate a more perilous environment since the attack. This includes threats such as hacked emails, poisoning, and even assassination plots from foreign entities like Iran, all while their security measures have intensified.

Yet, the impact of the assassination attempt on Trump remains largely unclear.

Those close to the campaign have mentioned that the shooting is a heavy burden for him. During a rally in Long Island last month, he seemed startled by someone approaching the stage, joking, “I got a little bit of a yip problem here.”

However, another source close to him stated that the topic hasn’t arisen in discussions lately, suggesting he seems to be doing well.

A Trump campaign representative explained that Trump hasn’t mentioned Crooks because “he’s dead” and no longer poses a threat.

Trump’s Approach: ‘Make Them Pay’

Trump’s tactic when facing criticism is to “strike back ten times harder,” according to Barbara Res, who once served as executive vice president for the Trump Organization and has since authored a critical book about him.

“He’ll even say it; you bring a gun, and he brings a cannon—there’s no comparison,” Res added, noting that Trump’s strategy with opponents is “to make them pay.”

Political rivals, business adversaries, and legal challengers have often faced the wrath of Trump’s fiery speeches, viral tweets, and accusatory posts on his social media platform, which frequently thrusts them into the spotlight.

However, the troubled shooter who nearly ended Trump’s life remains absent from his public discussions.

A close campaign associate remarked that Trump should be cautious about giving Crooks any kind of recognition.

“If you’re the president of the United States… experts might warn you about unintentionally inspiring potential copycats,” the source concluded.

Previously, Trump has faced criticism for encouraging incidents that led to violence, such as the January 6 Capitol riots and the 2017 violence between white nationalists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia.

On the evening of the assassination attempt, at 8:42 p.m. local time, Trump made his first public statement on Truth Social, noting, “At this moment, we don’t know anything about the shooter, who is now deceased.”

He went on to share, “Right away, I sensed something was amiss when I heard whizzing noises, followed by gunfire, and felt the bullet tearing through my skin.”

On July 14, at 1:32 a.m., the FBI identified Crooks as the shooter. Later that same morning, Trump expressed on social media that “it was only through divine intervention that we avoided a tragic outcome.”

He refrained from publicly addressing the incident until the night of his nomination speech on July 18, five days later.

Trump’s supporters hold Democrats accountable for the attack

While Trump recuperated and called for unity in his posts on Truth Social, his supporters began pointing fingers.

Wearing a blue suit with an American flag pin, House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared on NBC’s Today show following the shooting, stating that Trump was a target of provocative language.

“In modern American history, possibly since Lincoln, no one has been as vilified and persecuted by the media, Hollywood elites, political figures, and even the legal system as Trump has,” Johnson asserted.

Trump’s allies quickly shifted the blame toward Biden and the Democrats.

Top adviser Chris LaCivita denounced “leftist activists, Democratic donors,” and Biden for their “appalling comments” regarding Trump, insinuating that these remarks endangered him.

U.S. Senator JD Vance from Ohio, who later became Trump’s running mate, claimed that the Biden campaign’s narrative “directly contributed to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”

The U.S. Secret Service faced significant criticism for failing to recognize Crooks as a potential danger before Trump’s event, particularly under Biden’s leadership. Consequently, the head of the agency resigned on July 23.

Within 48 hours of the shooting, nearly 100 individuals were interviewed by the FBI. However, the political fallout from the incident progressed more rapidly than the investigation, which still has not unveiled Crooks’ motives.

Donald Trump Jr., during a gathering at a brewery near the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, expressed that he anticipated a shift to a more moderate tone from his father.

“Such significant events can have a lasting change on people,” Trump Jr. noted.

On July 18, Trump addressed the convention at the Fiserv Forum.

With a large white bandage covering his injured ear, many in the audience sported bandages in a show of support. Speaking publicly for the first time, Trump mentioned he would discuss the incident only once, as the memory was painful.

“It was a warm, beautiful evening in Butler Township, Pennsylvania,” the former president began.

Then came the gunfire; as blood spilled, he claimed that divine intervention protected him.

“Blood was everywhere, but I felt a sense of safety because I had God with me,” he recounted.

Trump continues to share this narrative.

Trump presents himself as a hero

On the campaign trail, Trump recounts tales of hardship, courage, and heroism.

His accounts involve Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who lost his life due to a bullet intended for Trump. He praises the Butler rally attendees for their bravery in not fleeing when the shooting began and acknowledges the “incredible” doctors who aided the injured.

Comperatore’s firefighter uniform and helmet were displayed on stage during the Republican National Convention, where Trump pointed them out as the crowd chanted “Corey, Corey.” He placed his hands on the jacket as if to bless it and kissed the helmet.

Trump went on to make over forty public appearances. Meanwhile, the spotlight began to shift towards Crooks’ life.

During a testimony before Congress on July 24, FBI Director Christopher Wray described Crooks, aged 20, as a “loner” with minimal personal or digital interactions. Wray noted that he had an interest in video games and was “somewhat enthusiastic” about shooting as a hobby.

Crooks was a registered Republican who had once contributed $15 to a liberal organization. He performed well academically and had no prior criminal history. Classmates reported instances of bullying, and the FBI indicated he searched for information about “major depressive disorder” shortly before the shooting.

Investigators are diligently seeking to uncover more information about Crooks, Wray confirmed, emphasizing that understanding his motivations is crucial for the public interest.

In a late August conference call with reporters, FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek stated that investigators had not yet determined a motive for the shooting, describing Crooks’ political beliefs as a mix of ideologies.

“We haven’t identified any strong political bias in relation to our suspect, whether it is leaning to the left or right,” he noted.

It remains uncertain how much former President Trump was informed about Crooks’ history before his meeting with the FBI.

The former president met with FBI officials to discuss the shooting for the first time in early August, sharing at an Aug. 8 press conference that “the FBI came to see me about the shooter and I believe they’ve done an excellent job.” He didn’t go into detail about the conversation.

When asked about the inquiries the FBI made; FBI Assistant Director Robert Wells said it was typical for any victim interview.

“Similar to any other witness to the event, they wanted to understand his perspective on what happened,” Wells explained.

The FBI, along with the Pennsylvania State Police, also reviewed Crooks’ background in the meeting with Trump.

“Agents provided the former president with a comprehensive update on the investigation and addressed his questions regarding the attempted assassination,” Wells stated.

Trump has not disclosed any details from this meeting during his public appearances. An insider familiar with FBI protocols mentioned that the agency generally does not inform a victim whether they should name a shooter, yet it is typically advised by victims’ advocates not to name gunmen to prevent glorification.

The assassination attempt quickly became a recurring theme in Trump’s campaign speeches. From Michigan to Florida and North Carolina, he transformed from a victim into a martyr.

“I took the bullet for democracy,” Trump stated, adding: “I may have done so because of their rhetoric,” referring to Democrats.

Instead of focusing on Crooks, Trump talked about other felons, including undocumented immigrants, claiming that Biden and Harris allowed them to operate freely.

In North Carolina, he pointed to Shawn Michael Tillman, who fatally shot someone on a train platform in St. Paul, Minnesota, in May 2022. Tillman was released on bail shortly before the shooting, supported by a charity that Harris endorsed in 2020, which provided legal aid to individuals arrested during protests following George Floyd’s death.

In Michigan, Trump referenced a woman’s murder by an undocumented man. He also frequently mentions the high rate of shootings in Chicago.

Then, another potential attacker came to light, and Trump’s campaign was quick to address it.

A thwarted assassination attempt, a different response

He was concealed among the bushes near the sixth hole.

At Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Trump was only a few hundred yards away on the fairway.

As a man slowly extended his rifle barrel from the bushes, a Secret Service agent spotted the weapon and opened fire. The gunman, who did not have Trump in his aim, dropped the gun and fled to a black Nissan SUV, but was quickly apprehended on the highway.

Ryan Routh, 58, had made contributions to Democratic candidates and supported Democratic initiatives. He criticized Trump, describing him as “brainless” after once backing him, and claimed in a self-published book that Iranians “are free to assassinate Trump.” His criminal background is extensive.

Promptly, fingers pointed in blame. This time, the would-be assassin’s image was widely disseminated.

Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, was quick to investigate Routh’s history, posting on X where he identified Routh and emphasized his donations to Democratic campaigns.

“His name is Ryan Routh, who contributed 19 times to Democratic initiatives and none to Republicans,” Vance commented. “Can you imagine the uproar from Democrats and their media supporters if a Republican donor tried to assassinate a Democratic figure?”

Donald Trump Jr. connected Routh’s actions with the assertion that his father poses a threat to democracy. “This has been the core message from the Democratic Party for the past 8 years,” he remarked. “Ryan Wesley Routh clearly received their message!”

The former president was also vocal.

“Due to the rhetoric from the Communist Left, violence is increasing, and it’s only going to escalate!” Trump stated the day after Routh’s arrest, attributing the incident at his golf course to comments made by Democrats like Harris.

Trump later shared an article detailing Routh’s overseas activities — he had traveled to Ukraine to aid in the conflict against Russia in 2022 and 2023. Customs and Border Protection officials had flagged Routh upon his return to Hawaii last year.

The differences between Crooks and Routh were glaring.

“Crooks is deceased. He no longer poses a threat to President Trump or anyone else. Routh is still alive, which creates a different dynamic.”

“It’s important to understand his reasons as the investigation into his motives continues,” a Trump campaign representative wrote to YSL News in an email clarifying the various reactions.

Res, a former employee of Trump who has now become a critic, believes Trump is silent about Crooks because he sees no political benefit; if there were, he “definitely” would have addressed it.

She explained that Trump’s attacks on his opponents are designed to intimidate and seek revenge.

Crooks was shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.

“It’s in the past for Trump,” Res stated regarding the Butler shooting. “He took what he could from it. What would be the reason to target Crooks? There’s nothing to gain, and he could potentially have something to lose.”

Routh seems to offer a clearer political target than Crooks, as he is easier to connect to the left.

“We had much more information; we knew significantly more about Routh,” commented Sean Spicer, former White House Press Secretary for Trump.

For Trump, it’s “an obvious target, no pun intended,” Spicer added. “I don’t think anyone doubted what this was about.”

Spicer noted that Crooks’ identity as a registered Republican gun enthusiast makes discussing him “more complicated.”

Addressing Crooks would mean addressing issues like firearm access and the use of violence, topics that resonate with young males who have been rallying around Trump in a competitive race.

Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted assassination and related offenses.

Responses from Trump’s supporters regarding Crooks

At a rally in Wilkes-Barre, music blared from loudspeakers as groups of young men gathered around the beds of pickup trucks with beers in hand.

Lewis Yost, 55, stood outside, having a cigarette before entering the venue. This retired corrections officer from New York shared that he was baffled by Crooks’ motives.

“I’m still trying to make sense of why he did it,” Yost said. “I can’t grasp what he tried to achieve. It’s confusing… none of it adds up.”

Among Trump supporters, opinions about Crooks varied significantly.

Some, like 50-year-old Navy veteran and air conditioner installer Billy Gray from Tyler, Texas, were suspicious of the shooting’s circumstances.

“I suspect it was orchestrated by the government. They killed Kennedy, right? What’s the easiest way to eliminate your adversary?” Gray suggested. “You can’t run if you’re gone.”

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Timothy Denhollander from Pittstown, New Jersey, asserted that it was divine intervention that saved Trump from Crooks.

Denhollander, a devout Christian who shares his home with 13 siblings, wore a shirt depicting Trump raising his fist after surviving the Butler shooting, with blood streaked across his face.

“God just turned his head a bit to graze his ear,” he remarked.

Others hinted that discussing Crooks might lead to undesirable topics, such as gun control.

“You can’t hold the guns accountable,” said 26-year-old Charles Langan.

Many attendees at the Wilkes-Barre rally were not well-informed about Crooks and preferred it that way.

They believed that less focus on the shooter was preferable; don’t give him the notoriety he sought.

As Trump continues his campaign trail, it seems he will keep recounting stories about various shooting incidents.

However, Crooks will likely remain unmentioned.