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Consider This from NPR

A would-be assassin targets Trump. What it could mean for America.

Consider This from NPR

NPR

News, Daily News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.26.2K Ratings

🗓️ 15 July 2024

⏱️ 14 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Shortly after 6pm on Saturday, a would-be assassin took aim at former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump and two others were injured and one person was killed before the Secret Service shot and killed the alleged gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.

Crooks was a registered Republican but gave $15 to a progressive Political Action Committee in 2021. Law enforcement has yet to identify a motive or an ideology.

For the first time in decades, a presidential candidate has been the target of an assassination plot. How might Saturday's events affect an already divided America?

Author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses what history can teach us about this moment.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Just a warning, you're going to hear the sound of gunfire in this episode.

0:03.7

Shortly after 6 o'clock eastern on Saturday, a would-be assassin took aim at former President

0:08.9

Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

0:12.0

Take a look at what happened.

0:14.0

Down, down, it down, it down.

0:17.0

Aye witnesses told the media

0:22.0

they saw a man with a rifle and alerted police.

0:26.0

Saw the guy moved from roof to roof, told an officer that he was on the roof and when I turned around to go back to where I was is when the

0:36.7

gunshots started and then it was just chaos.

0:40.9

Trump and two others were injured and one person was killed. That victim has been identified. This comparator at a press conference on Sunday. Corey was a girl dead.

0:54.9

Corey was a firefighter.

0:57.3

Corey went to church every Sunday.

1:01.0

Corey loved his community and most especially Corey loved his family.

1:07.0

Corey was an avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community.

1:17.0

Secret Service shot and killed the alleged gunman 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.

1:22.0

He used an AR-15 style weapon from a near-time. 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.

1:22.6

He used an AR-15 style weapon from a nearby rooftop.

1:26.3

Investigators believe the weapon was bought legally by his father, and law enforcement also

1:30.6

found at least one explosive device in his vehicle.

1:34.0

Crooks was a registered Republican but gave $15 to a progressive political action

1:39.0

committee in 2021.

1:41.3

Law enforcement has yet to identify a motive or an ideology.

...

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