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ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl says newly released congressional evidence let him piece together a detailed account of the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania, campaign event. His reporting draws on raw records and sworn Secret Service interviews that, he says, recreate the incident minute by minute.
How records unlocked a step-by-step reconstruction
Karl told hosts on a national morning show that a trove of documents gave reporters unprecedented access to the sequence of events. The files included:
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- raw audio and video clips
- sworn statements from Secret Service agents
- internal timelines compiled for members of Congress
Using those materials, he says he could map what unfolded at the rally and in the moments that followed. Karl is also promoting his new book, Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America, which covers the broader campaign context.
What happened at the Butler rally
Authorities say the shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired shots that struck the president in the ear and wounded three attendees. One of those wounded later died. A Secret Service agent fatally shot Crooks at the scene.
Agents quickly moved to shield the president and place him in an armored SUV. Karl describes chaos as officers tried to secure him for transport to medical care.
A tense, public moment captured on camera
According to the reconstructed account, Mr. Trump resisted agents’ efforts to keep him inside the vehicle. He briefly exited, pumped his fist for cameras and shouted, an action Karl characterizes as dramatically exposing the president in a vulnerable scene.
- Agents concerned about the possibility of a second attacker
- President makes a visible gesture that was widely photographed
- The image rapidly circulated and became a focal point for commentary
Security officials warned that the move violated standard protocol. Karl noted the risk: while the gesture signaled resilience to supporters, it also increased exposure to potential danger.
Secret Service reaction and campaign optics
Internal Secret Service notes, as summarized by Karl, labeled the president’s behavior a breach of training. Still, the journalist described the moment as, paradoxically, among the president’s most defining public displays during the campaign.
From the campaign’s perspective, the gesture was intended to reassure the crowd. In an interview with the Washington Examiner, the president said the fist pump told supporters he was okay and that the campaign would continue.
How the image shaped political messaging
- Supporters interpreted the gesture as a sign of strength.
- Critics pointed to security risks and lapses in judgment.
- Newsrooms and social feeds replayed the photo, making it a lasting symbol.
Media appearances and the broader narrative
Karl discussed his findings on national television and referenced the congressional report that made his reconstruction possible. He says the assembled material allowed him to recount the timeline in granular detail, down to what the president reportedly asked at the hospital.
According to Karl’s reporting, one of the president’s first questions after arriving at the hospital was about televised coverage and how the moment appeared on screen. That concern for optics, he argues, underscores how public image and security intersect in modern campaigns.
Source note and reporting context
The new account is based on public congressional documents, including raw evidence and sworn interviews released as part of official inquiries. Karl’s reporting synthesizes those materials with media interviews and eyewitness accounts to offer a cohesive timeline of the day’s events.
