I saw a reasonable explanation of how it could have happened, from someone on X who was involved in presidential security detail. Basically, the SS protects the initial perimeter around the president, as well as the sniper cover, but works with local authorities to patrol the area outside of the secure area where this guy was. The coordination between the SS and local groups usually goes through a few key contact points, which is where communication could have broken down in this scenario.
Based on the comments, it seems the protection for former presidents and candidates is not usually given the same level of resources as protecting the sitting president. So if someone asks how could there not be snipers on every rooftop in the areaā¦well, Trump is not the sitting president.
Bidenās words were careful on that last point today. He did not say āthe highest level of security availableā but something closer to āwhat has always been the proper protocol.ā
Perhaps we can debate if Trump should be given more security because he is controversial, and maybe conclude that he should.
A highly trained marksman would not be able to consistently fire that close to Trump without a risk of killing him. The conspiracy theories donāt make sense.
The raised fist did feel planned, but it is more likely that Trump has spent time fetishizing being shot at and responding like one of the strongman dictators that he admires.
That was my assumption. He had a little time between being on stage and the later fist bump (like 30-60 seconds). Thatās enough time for Trump to process a great photo op. And, youāre probably right, he has thought about this.
Her thought was āblood packet.ā Shots fire, he slaps himself by the ear, it looks like heās been hit, you get the dramatic effect but he gets the masculine survival photo op.
Do I buy this? No, Iām not a conspiracy theorist. On the other hand, could I see someone around the Trump campaign set this up? Absolutely I could, but then you get into how do you get a 20-year old to off themselves for this and how do you make sure a 20-year old offs some rando in the audience and not Trump and ā¦ look, this is why Iām an actuary and not a ballistics expert or a special effects designer.
I like conspiracy theories, but I think it would take a sizable theory to explain the two dead people. You would, I think, need to create the security lapse, and hire a real person to kill and be killed, which is a lot.
One thing Iām curious about is what they used to match his dna.
If they thought they knew his identity, they could probably find hairs in his homeā¦ on his pillow or hairbrush or something.
Can also check dental records, although I donāt totally understand how this works. Does the dentist have to say āyeah, Iām Jim Bobās dentist; hereās his latest x-raysā? That might require waiting until the dentistās office is openā¦
Someone else suggested that might be the air disturbance trailing the bullet rather than the actual bullet, but regardless, that is some remarkable timing āthat is just impossibleā/red.
So far it sounds like the shooter might be one of the least politically motivated people in America. They havenāt found much other than he was a bit of a loner.