The FBI says Thomas Crooks acted alone in the Butler, Pennsylvania attack on President Trump, officials pushed back at suggestions of a wider conspiracy, and the case remains listed as pending, inactive.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is publicly stating that Thomas Crooks, who tried to assassinate President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, acted alone according to its inquiry. FBI Director Kash Patel has been cited for this conclusion while media and commentators continue to press for more details. That dispute has kept the story in the headlines and prompted heated back-and-forths about the thoroughness of the probe.
Tucker Carlson has challenged the official narrative, saying the public deserves clearer answers about Crooks and any possible ties or influences. That questioning prompted renewed attention and a documentary that raised fresh questions, which in turn prompted senior officials to respond directly. The exchange spilled into televised interviews and public statements, keeping the investigation in the spotlight.
Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino addressed the matter on a national platform, defending the bureau’s work and its credibility under new leadership. They emphasized that investigators rechecked leads and interviewed key witnesses to rule out broader conspiracies. Their goal was to reestablish trust after earlier confusion about the initial reporting and statements that followed the event.
“We have reviewed this case over and over — looked into every nugget. We have spoken to the families, the president — there is no cover-up here.”
Patel also pointed a finger at the previous FBI director for creating public doubt when initial remarks about the attack were unclear. He argued that a top official’s uncertainty on a critical detail damaged confidence in the bureau and that the current team is focused on restoring that trust. His language was pointed and direct, intended to contrast the current approach with past missteps.
My predecessor went to Congress and said he didn’t know if it was a bullet that hit President Trump in the head. The whole world knew it was a bullet. For the number one law enforcement officer to say that — it causes a massive disbelief in the institution that Dan and I are now running. But that is the difference between then and now.
Federal officials describe the investigation status as “pending, inactive,” a designation that has raised questions among those who want immediate clarity. Investigators say the label reflects the current state of leads and the absence of evidence tying Crooks to a larger plot, not a decision to close the file entirely. For now, the agency maintains its conclusion while leaving open the possibility of reopening if credible new information emerges.
The documentary released by Tucker Carlson claimed to have uncovered a long digital history of violent commentary attributed to Crooks and suggested interactions that some interpreted as encouragement toward political violence. That material included alleged comments on Crooks’ YouTube account and interactions with a user named “Willy_Tepes,” which commentators suggested looked like problematic encouragement. Those findings led to public debate about whether the shooter acted alone or under influence from external actors.
Carlson’s uncovered YouTube comments allegedly posted by Crooks from 2019-2020, revealing the shooter’s long digital history of making calls for assassinations and political violence. Crooks’ YouTube comments indicate he radically shifted his ideology from pro-Trump towards the far left. During the final phase in 2020 of Crook’s YouTube commenting, the shooter began interacting with a suspicious user ‘Willy_Tepes’ who appeared to encourage Crooks to commit political violence.
Patel publicly rejected the notion of a foreign group or organized network behind the attack and has pushed back on theories that extend beyond the evidence the FBI has. He has repeatedly said investigators followed leads and found no substantiation for those broader claims. That pushback aimed to close the door on conspiracy theories while keeping the line open for further inquiries if new facts appear.
According to reporting from national outlets, President Trump is said to be “satisfied” with how the FBI handled the case, signaling acceptance from the subject of the attack itself. That reported satisfaction aligns with the bureau’s assertion that, based on the evidence available, Crooks operated alone. For now, Republican-leaning officials and supporters point to the conclusion as proof the investigation reached a clear outcome under current leadership.
