FACT CHECK: No, ABC News Reporter Pierre Thomas Did Not Say The Government Tried To Kill Trump

Christine SellersJuly 26, 2024

A recent video on the platform X‌ (formerly Twitter) claims that ABC News journalist Pierre Thomas stated the U.S. government attempted to kill former President Donald Trump during coverage of a shooting at Trump’s campaign rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler,⁤ Pennsylvania. The video, which claims Thomas’s remarks suggest governmental involvement, has been labeled as false. A transcript reveals that Thomas actually referred to a‌ “gunman” and not the “government” while reporting on the incident.

The video focuses on the immediate aftermath of a shooting, where Thomas indicates that a gunman tried to kill Trump. Footage referenced includes law enforcement’s‌ helmet camera recordings and⁣ details about a drone and explosive⁢ devices found in the⁣ possession of the⁤ shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks. The FBI confirmed ‌these⁣ findings and stated that the explosives could be detonated remotely.

The original report by Thomas does not include any mention of government involvement, and the claim lacks support ‌from both the original footage ⁣and ABC News’s ⁢official channels.‍ The assertion about government involvement in the shooting has‌ been thoroughly debunked.

A video shared on X claims ABC News journalist Pierre Thomas said the U.S. government tried to kill 2024 Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump when reporting on the shooting that occurred at Trump’s July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

NEW: ABC host claims the United States government tried to kill President Trump! 🤬 pic.twitter.com/s1tVkPoqIF

— Danny C (@DannyC1111_DC) July 24, 2024

Verdict: False

The claim is false. A transcript included with the original video, which has been uploaded to Good Morning America’s verified YouTube channel, indicates Thomas said “gunman,” not “government” while reporting on the shooting.

Fact Check:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recovered a drone and “two ‘relatively crude’ explosive devices” from Trump rally shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks’ car and home, according to The Hill. FBI Director Christopher Wray said the explosives had the ability to be “detonated remotely” during recent testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, the outlet reported.

The X video claims Thomas said the government tried to kill Trump when reporting on the shooting that occurred at the former Republican President’s July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. “NEW: ABC host claims the United States government tried to kill President Trump!” the post’s caption reads. The report is focused on a new video from mere seconds after the shooting, Thomas says during the segment.

“Our audience is about to see the frantic seconds in the moments after the gunman tried to kill former President Trump,” Thomas says, beginning at the video’s 0:15-second mark. The segment focuses on footage obtained by law enforcement’s helmet cameras showing them on the roof of a nearby building from which Crooks opened fire. The footage also shows law enforcement counting the number of shell casings on the roof.

Intentionally blurred-out images of Crooks’ body after he was killed by a sniper can be seen as well. At no point does Thomas mention the government being involved in the shooting.