The circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination of Donald Trump have led to an overflow of speculation and more or less well-founded theories about what really happened in Butler, Pennsylvania.
At the same time, witnesses point out that the buildings were not secured, that police and security were extremely passive, and some even claim that there was a second shooter on the scene.
Some go so far as to suggest that the whole thing was a psy-op or false flag attack, claiming that Trump was either not shot at all – that it was fake blood and spectacle – or that the goal all along was to shoot him right in the ear but not seriously injure him.
Proponents of this hypothesis often argue that the purpose would have been to strengthen Trump politically and increase public sympathy for him ahead of the upcoming election, and further argue that the president’s actions after the shooting also suggest that it was all planned in advance and orchestrated by someone other than the alleged shooter.
Murders and attempted murders of high-profile politicians that lead to widespread conspiracy theories and speculation that all is not as it seems are more the rule than the exception, and while the “spectacle” or “false flag” theories seem tiresome, far-fetched, and conspiratorial to many, a large number of people believe that there are clearly several big question marks surrounding the events in Butler.
Unlikely inaction
One such question mark, which perhaps more than anything else has led many to be skeptical that a lone gunman was behind the attack, is what is perceived as extreme and unlikely inaction and incompetence on the part of the security services.
The fact that the shooter was able to climb onto the roof in peace and prepare his weapon without the security services or police appearing to have acted is described as very strange – as is the fact that the location was not secured in the first place, even though it was fully visible and this type of elevated location is normally always secured in these contexts.
At the same time, witnesses point out that bystanders tried to alert the police to the fact that a man was crawling around on the roof – but that they still ignored what was happening – perhaps for several minutes.
Others point out that the police themselves had placed snipers around the scene, claiming that they had the shooter in full control, but actively chose not to shoot him – before he fired at Trump first.
A second shooter?
Several witnesses at the scene also speak of a second shooter who was allegedly on a nearby water tower, claiming that the shots came from two directions and that shooter number two was neither apprehended nor shot, but got away.
In the aftermath of this chaotic and spectacular event, the flow of information has been difficult to navigate – and there has also been a great deal of disinformation, with completely unrelated people from completely different contexts being misidentified as the shooter of Donald Trump.
Like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it is not unlikely that the full story of what happened last Saturday will never be known. However, below are some of the clips and testimonies that form the basis of some of the alternative theories being circulated:
"Officer! He's on the roof!"
New video shows Trump shooter climbing onto the roof while several rally attendees point at him and yell for police.pic.twitter.com/6yUUqgt0qY
— Steven Greenstreet 🐷 (@MiddleOfMayhem) July 15, 2024
"The shooter was crawling with a rifle on top of the other side of the barn across. We were pointing his location to the secret service, and they took him down. It was over. " Witness at the shooting of Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania.
‼️How was a shooter with a full rifle… pic.twitter.com/yvU7Lottoi
— Ivano Panetti (@ivanopanetti) July 14, 2024
🔥🔥Oh my goodness! A THIRD Water Tower shooter witness! This lady claims there were two shooters too!
— Bad Kitty Unleashed 🦁 (@pepesgrandma) July 15, 2024
🔥Breaking! Yet another Butler Water Tower shooter witness!
Here’s a second witness that heard a man scream, “there’s a sniper”, while he pointed towards the water tower!
— Bad Kitty Unleashed 🦁 (@pepesgrandma) July 15, 2024
🚨🇺🇸 Trump assassination attempt
Several Eye witness testimonies are emerging, suggesting there was a second shooter “at the water tower” pic.twitter.com/3wfJe1x2qr
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) July 16, 2024
Seems pretty clear that the Police/SS snipers had the shooter in their sights before you hear the shooter fire off three shots in quick succession, and then two more. One injuring Trump, and the others killing a member of the audience and injuring two more.
Watch the Police/SS… pic.twitter.com/KtBV7ykW2n
— Joe Quinn (@SeosQuinn) July 14, 2024
Footage suggests a shooter may have been killed at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A witness on the scene has reported that there were two shooters, contradicting initial Butler Police’s report pic.twitter.com/e4YqouIBWV
— Morgan Whisper 🦋🌺 (@MorganWhis44787) July 13, 2024
EVIDENCE OF A SET-UP:
– Secret Service did not secure the nearest tall building, ~400 feet from the stage with line of sight
– A ladder had been placed in advance of the shooting on the building
– Attendees alerted law enforcement to the presence of the shooter pic.twitter.com/In9I0Ml8Vo— Nicholas J. Fuentes (@NickJFuentes) July 14, 2024