The recent controversy surrounding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a 2024 campaign rally has resurfaced due to a public dispute between conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Carlson claimed the FBI misled the public about the online activity of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman responsible for the attack, alleging that the bureau falsely stated Crooks had “no online footprint” and deliberately withheld information from the public. The FBI swiftly rejected these claims through its Rapid Response account on X, stating emphatically that it had never made such an assertion. This disagreement has reignited scrutiny over how information regarding one of the most consequential acts of political violence in recent U.S. history has been shared with the public. While Carlson frames his reporting as a corrective measure against perceived official deception, the FBI insists that his narrative misrepresents both the agency’s statements and its procedures. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over institutional transparency, public trust, and the influence of prominent media figures in shaping perceptions of federal investigations.

The context of the attack is essential to understanding the stakes. On July 13, 2024, Crooks opened fire on Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, firing eight rounds from an AR-15-style rifle from a rooftop vantage point. One attendee was killed, two were wounded, and Trump narrowly avoided serious injury when a bullet grazed his ear. The U.S. Secret Service Counter Sniper Team neutralized Crooks within seconds, ending the immediate threat. Despite the rapid response, the speed and severity of the incident left many questions unanswered, and much of the subsequent investigation occurred behind closed doors. Authorities have confirmed Crooks’ identity, the weapon used, and the location of the attack, but details regarding his planning, motivations, and online activity remain limited in the public record. This scarcity of verified information has fueled speculation and competing narratives, leaving a vacuum that media figures and political commentators have sought to fill with varying degrees of accuracy.

The attack exposed serious vulnerabilities within U.S. federal security protocols. In the aftermath, questions arose about how Crooks was able to access a rooftop within shooting range of a high-profile political figure. The scrutiny culminated in the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, marking one of the most significant leadership consequences for the agency in decades. An independent review panel subsequently determined that the Secret Service required “fundamental reform,” citing lapses in coordination, threat assessment, and perimeter control. These findings emphasized that the incident was not solely a matter of individual criminal behavior but also a systemic failure with broad implications. Against this backdrop, the FBI’s handling of information about Crooks’ digital footprint became a flashpoint for critics demanding greater transparency. The limited release of details about Crooks’ online behavior has been interpreted by some as a deliberate effort to obscure aspects of the investigation, raising questions about how federal agencies communicate sensitive intelligence to the public.

The tension came to a head when Carlson released a 35-minute video on X, claiming the material contained information the FBI had allegedly “worked hard to make sure you haven’t seen.” The video included footage Carlson said came from Crooks’ Google Drive, showing the gunman dry-firing a weapon in a room with paper targets taped to the walls. Carlson asserted that Crooks maintained a substantial online presence, with accounts across multiple platforms including Gmail, Snapchat, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, Discord, Google Play, Quizlet, Chess.com, Quora, and YouTube. According to Carlson, this evidence contradicted prior impressions that Crooks left little digital trace and implied that the FBI had misrepresented the case to the public. By emphasizing the sheer breadth of Crooks’ online activity, Carlson framed his reporting as a challenge to official narratives, suggesting that the FBI’s credibility was at stake and that important context about the gunman’s behavior had been withheld from citizens.

The FBI’s rebuttal focused narrowly on Carlson’s key claim. Through the Rapid Response account, the agency insisted that it had never stated Crooks had no online footprint, distinguishing between assumptions made publicly and the bureau’s official communications. The account highlighted that the current FBI leadership differs from the team operating under the Biden administration, implicitly noting that Carlson’s allegations may misattribute statements to the wrong officials. The Rapid Response account, established in November 2025, functions as a relatively new official channel, followed by thousands including FBI Director Kash Patel and national journalists. Reports of a briefly appearing Community Note referencing a July 2024 comment by former Deputy Director Paul Abbate were circulated online, but the FBI maintained that any such note would not contradict its claim that it had never issued the statement Carlson attributed to it. Carlson, meanwhile, dismissed verification concerns regarding the alleged accounts, insisting the evidence was self-evident and questioning the bureau’s clarification as “confusing.”

The ongoing dispute reflects deeper tensions around the control of narrative in the wake of high-profile political violence. For critics of federal institutions, Carlson’s reporting reinforces preexisting concerns that agencies may selectively release information, potentially shaping public understanding to fit institutional objectives. For defenders of the FBI, the incident illustrates how easily official communications can be misrepresented or amplified out of context, eroding trust in a climate already sensitive to misinformation. Beyond these debates, Crooks’ actions underscore the real-world consequences of security lapses, with long-term political, legal, and psychological ramifications. Investigations stemming from the attack continue to inform reforms within the Secret Service and related agencies, emphasizing the importance of threat assessment and operational accountability. Yet the battle over the presentation of Crooks’ online activity exemplifies how questions of transparency, digital evidence, and narrative framing have become central to public discourse.

Ultimately, whether Carlson’s disclosures clarify the public record or intensify polarization, the episode highlights the fragility of consensus around truth in an era dominated by social media, influential commentators, and rapid information dissemination. The interplay between official statements, independent reporting, and online amplification complicates public understanding, leaving citizens to navigate competing versions of events. While the FBI seeks to assert the accuracy of its communications, media figures like Carlson continue to challenge and reinterpret official narratives, reflecting broader societal debates over authority, credibility, and accountability. As security reforms are implemented and the lessons of the 2024 attack are analyzed, the public and policymakers alike are reminded that both effective protection and transparent communication are essential to maintaining trust in institutions charged with safeguarding democracy. The controversy surrounding Crooks’ online footprint and the FBI’s statements serves as a case study in how high-profile political violence, media scrutiny, and institutional responses converge in a highly polarized information environment.

Who is Thomas Crooks? pic.twitter.com/WwjvPGGRwS

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 14, 2025