In this episode of The Daily, Doug Mills, a veteran photojournalist, recounts witnessing an assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a campaign rally, offering a firsthand account and photographic evidence of the harrowing event. The summary also examines the investigation into the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, whose motives remain unclear, as well as the failures in security protocol that allowed the attack to unfold.
Additionally, the political reactions and rhetoric surrounding the assassination attempt are explored, highlighting the deep divisions and concerns about potential violence and democratic backsliding. While some condemn the violence as an assault on democracy and call for unity, others have politicized the event, exposing the polarized response to such traumatic incidents.
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Veteran photojournalist Doug Mills describes witnessing the shooting just feet from Trump. Mills immediately captured dramatic photos, including one potentially showing a bullet streaking past Trump's head before he was struck. Mills reflects on the weight of documenting this traumatic event.
Authorities have identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Pennsylvania. Crooks had no history of extremism or violence, confounding investigators searching for a clear motive. They are examining his devices and background for clues, as he was surprisingly able to access a rooftop overlooking the rally despite security.
Glenn Thrush notes the attack exposed gaps in coordination between the Secret Service and local law enforcement, allowing Crooks an unobstructed firing position from a rooftop outside the secured perimeter. The speed and precision suggest he may have had advance knowledge of security protocols. Lawmakers are calling for investigations into these security lapses.
Biden and Democrats condemned the violence as an attack on democracy, calling for unity. However, some Republicans like Mike Collins and Lauren Boebert have sought to politicize the event, blaming Biden's rhetoric. The divergent responses highlight deep political divisions raising concerns about further violence and democratic backsliding.
1-Page Summary
Doug Mills, a veteran photojournalist, offers a vivid firsthand account and photographic evidence of a shooting incident involving former President Trump.
During the event, Mills was extremely close to the action, standing just a few feet from Trump when the gunfire erupted. Amidst the immediate chaos, Mills instinctively began taking photographs, capturing the tumultuous scene and Trump’s reaction.
Mills recounts the moment with gripping detail, describing how he was less than three feet from Trump as three or four loud pops rang out. He witnessed Trump grab his ear and fall from view behind a sign. Throughout the commotion, Mills focused his lens on Trump, attempting to document the unfolding drama. As Trump was brought up by his agents, he put his fist up – a gesture that Mills captured in an image that would become iconic.
In his photograph collection, one chilling image stands out: what seems to be a bullet streaking past the former president. As the scene unfolded rapidly, Mills continued to shoot instinctively. Only later, after sending the photo sequence to his editor, Jennifer, did the surreal possibility emerge that one of his images might have recorded the exact moment a bullet flew past Trump's head.
Mills himself, in the midst of the harrowing events, did not fully grasp that he might have doc ...
Eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence of the shooting
The authorities are investigating the background and motives of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old shooter from Pennsylvania whose actions have left both public and investigators puzzled.
Crooks stands out as neither politically extreme nor previously violent, confounding the pursuit of a clear motive. Described as quiet and intelligent, he had minimal social media presence and did not leave behind a political manifesto. Although he was a registered Republican, his only noted political activity was a small donation to a liberal group, with the 2020 election set to be his first as a voter.
Surprisingly, Crooks accessed a rooftop to fire upon the rally, showcasing a security vulnerability during an event that had heavy protective measures in place.
Investigation into the shooter and his potential motives
The attack on the former president has raised serious questions about the competence and coordination of the security forces tasked with his protection, revealing potential security failures.
The Secret Service, which had control over the event inside the perimeter, seemingly failed to properly assess risks and coordinate with local law enforcement, which was responsible for the broader area. The shooter, Crooks, managed to take a position outside the secured perimeter on the rooftop of a warehouse, indicating a gap in security coverage. There was confusion about the local law enforcement's responsibilities regarding the warehouse, leading to Crooks having a clear firing line.
The rapidity and accuracy of the attack imply the shooter may have had prior knowledge of the event's layout and security strategies, suggesting intelligence deficits or errors in the protective measures. Glenn Thrush notes this incident shows a significant lapse by the Secret Service and other associated law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Justice, agree on the inadequacy of the event security planni ...
Security failures that enabled the attack
In the wake of the attack, political leaders and commentators have voiced a spectrum of opinions, reflecting the polarization that is gripping the nation's political discourse.
In the subsequent period following the attack, figures such as President Biden and other Democrats have urged for a collective front against violence, framing the attack as an affront to the core principles of democracy. President Biden made appearances over the weekend condemning the violence and underscoring its incompatibility with democratic values, emphasizing the need for unity across the political divide. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson appealed to the public and his peers in government to dial down the incendiary rhetoric, advocating for a more tempered discourse.
Contrasting with calls for unity, certain Republican figures have politicized the attack. Republican Mike Collins took to social media to make unsubstantiated claims that Joe Biden orchestrated the shooting of Donald Trump. Similarly, Lauren Boebert, in a television interview, attributed the responsibility for the shooting to Biden and insinuated that the aggressive rhetoric from Democrats had incited the violence. These reactions serve to illustrate the deep-seated political rifts a ...
Political reactions and rhetoric in the aftermath of the attack
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