US President Donald Trump says he is “satisfied” with the investigation into the assassination attempt that nearly took his life at a Pennsylvania rally last year, even as he acknowledged serious lapses by the Secret Service, calling it “a bad day” for the elite protection agency. The Secret Service on Thursday announced disciplinary action against six staff members in connection with the security lapses during the July 2024 shooting in Butler.
In excerpts from an upcoming episode of Fox News’ My View with Lara Trump, scheduled to air Saturday, Trump, 79, reflected on the day of the attempt, describing the Secret Service as having “had a bad day.”
“There were mistakes made. And that shouldn’t have happened,” Trump said during the interview with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who hosts the show on the Trump-friendly network.
The Republican candidate was grazed by a bullet while speaking at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. The attacker, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, had taken a position in a “prime building” overlooking the venue, Trump noted.
One bystander was killed, and two others—along with Trump—were wounded before a counter-sniper fatally shot the gunman.
“The sniper was able to get him from a long distance with one shot. If he didn’t do that, you would have had an even worse situation,” Trump said. “His name is David, and he did a fantastic job.”
Reflecting on the investigation into the shooting and what he referred to as “the larger plot,” Trump said, “I’m satisfied with it.”
“It was unforgettable,” he added. “I didn’t know exactly what was going on. I got whacked. There’s no question about that. And fortunately, I got down quickly. People were screaming.”
In a statement released Thursday, the Secret Service called the 2024 shooting “nothing short of a tragedy” and “an operational failure that the Secret Service will carry as a reminder of the critical importance of its zero-fail mission.”
The agency cited a combination of communication breakdowns, technical problems, and human error. It announced ongoing reforms, including improved interagency coordination and the creation of a specialized aerial surveillance division.
Six staff members, who were not publicly identified, received suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days without pay. All have been reassigned to restricted or non-operational roles.
To strengthen presidential security, the agency is also expanding its fleet of armored golf carts. Trump, who frequently spends weekends at his golf courses, was reportedly the target of another assassination attempt in Florida in September 2024 while playing.
“The agency has taken many steps to ensure such an event can never be repeated in the future,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement.
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