WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump has instructed the Secret Service to provide him with complete details regarding two assassination attempts against him, expressing frustration over delays in disclosure and raising concerns about the suspects’ use of foreign encrypted apps.
The first attempt occurred in July 2024 at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where 19-year-old Thomas Crooks fired shots at Trump, causing a minor ear injury before being shot dead by law enforcement. Investigators later discovered encrypted messaging apps from Belgium, New Zealand, and Germany on Crooks’ device.
The second attempt took place in September 2024 at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Suspect Ryan Routh, 59, was found with six mobile phones in his vehicle and was arrested after attempting to flee. Routh had been planning the attack for weeks and had positioned himself with a rifle before being spotted by a Secret Service agent.
Trump’s national security adviser, former Representative Michael Waltz, has raised concerns about the presence of encrypted foreign applications on the suspects’ devices, calling for a deeper investigation into possible international links.