A former classmate of would-be Trump assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks described him as a “Trump hater” in an interview with Fox News.

“Thomas was a quiet kid unless there was something that he was passionate about. Politics being one of them, he just did not like politicians, especially with the choices that we’ve had. He did not like our politicians,” said Vincent Taormina, a former classmate of Crooks, adding that this became especially apparent in 2016.

“So I brought up the fact that I’m Hispanic and you know I’m for Trump, and he said, ‘well you’re Hispanic so shouldn’t you hate Trump?’ And I was like, ‘no he’s great, I mean like he’s a great president.’ And he’s you know, he called me stupid, or insinuated that as if he’s like, well, that’s kind of stupid.”

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“So like, once again, if he was passionate about something, he would just talk, talk, talk and acted like he knew everything, especially politics related. And he was just, he was, he would say it in a type of way. And meanwhile, it’s like, dude, we’re in the same classes. You know what I mean? We’re talking about the same stuff here,” the former classmate continued.

Federal investigators have yet to determine a motive for the shooting after combing through Crooks’ phone and limited internet history. Crooks also had a very small presence on social media, as the only platform he seemed to be active on was Discord, a messaging application popular with gaming. The company announced that Crooks’ account was deleted after the shooting.

Crooks was registered to vote as a Republican, though his only political donation was to the Democrat fundraising arm ActBlue. The donation of $15 was made on the day of President Biden’s inauguration.

On Saturday, July 13, Crooks opened fire from a rooftop located 130 yards away from the former president’s podium. Secret Service personnel became aware of Crooks’ presence roughly an hour before the shooting, though Trump was still placed on stage.

Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle has been pressed to resign in the aftermath of the shooting, though she has shown no indication of doing so.

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Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) touched on the idea of an America left behind and neglected by a greedy elite — a theme that has come to define the Trump movement — during his speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

“When I was in the fourth grade, a career politician by the name of Joe Biden supported NAFTA, a bad trade deal that sent countless good jobs to Mexico. When I was a sophomore in high school, that same career politician named Joe Biden gave China a sweetheart trade deal that destroyed even more good American middle-class manufacturing jobs,” Vance said.

“When I was a senior in high school, that same Joe Biden supported the disastrous invasion of Iraq. And at each step of the way, in small towns like mine in Ohio or next door in Pennsylvania or Michigan, in states all across our country, jobs were sent overseas and our children were sent to war.”

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Senator Vance frequently recalled his upbringing in Appalachia — where he grew up in poverty while his mother struggled with addiction — throughout his address.

“But, my friends, things did not work out well for a lot of kids I grew up with. Every now and then, I will get a call from a relative back home who asks, did you know so-and-so? And I’ll remember a face from years ago, and then I’ll hear, they died of an overdose,” he said. “As always, America’s ruling class wrote the checks. Communities like mine paid the price.”

“For decades, that divide between the few with their power and comfort in Washington and the rest of us only widened. From Iraq to Afghanistan, from the financial crisis to the Great Recession, from open borders to stagnating wages, the people who govern this country have failed and failed again. That is, of course, until a guy named Donald J. Trump came along,” he continued.

“President Trump represents America’s last best hope to restore what, if lost, may never be found again. A country where a working class boy born far from the halls of power can stand on this A country where a working class boy born far from the halls of power can stand as the Vice President of the United States of America.”

JD Vance: “President Trump represents America’s last best hope to restore what, if lost, may never be found again.” pic.twitter.com/GqTGZJLhJq

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 18, 2024

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Former President Donald Trump’s eldest granddaughter, Kai Madison Trump, became a late speaking addition to the Republican National Convention when she asked her dad, Donald Trump Jr., if she could get the chance to speak.

“Before I begin my remarks, I’m going to do something a little uncharacteristic. A Trump is going to give up the microphone. It doesn’t happen often, you may never see it again, but I got a call on Monday morning from a young lady who said, ‘Dad, I want to speak at the RNC. I want to speak at the RNC because I want America to know what my grandpa is actually like,’” Trump Jr. said after taking the stage on Wednesday night. He then introduced his eldest daughter, who told convention goers that she wanted to, “share the side of my grandpa that people don’t often see.”

“To me, he’s just a normal grandpa. He gives us candy and soda when our parents aren’t looking. He always wants to know how we’re doing in school. When I made the high honor roll, he printed it out to show his friends how proud he was of me. He calls me during the middle of the school day to ask how my golf game is going and tells me all about his,” she said, drawing cheers from the crowd and a big smile from her grandfather.

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Kai Trump continued to draw laughs and cheers throughout her remarks. “He always encourages me to push myself to be the most successful person I can be. Obviously, he sets the bar pretty high, but who knows, maybe one day I’ll catch him,” she said.

The speech then took on a more serious tone when the former president’s granddaughter referenced the assassination attempt that took place this past Saturday. “On Saturday, I was shocked when I heard that he has been shot and I just wanted to know if he was okay. It was heartbreaking that someone would do that to another person. Grandpa, you are such an inspiration, and I love you,” she continued, prompting the crowd to rise for a standing ovation.

“The media makes my grandpa seem like a different person, but I know him for who he is,” Trump concluded. “He’s very caring and loving. He truly wants the best for this country, and he will fight every single day to make America great again.”

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Just hours after abruptly cancelling a Las Vegas speaking event due to what has been reported as a COVID-19 diagnosis, President Biden is reportedly “more receptive” to stepping down.

Citing a conversation with a “senior Democratic advisor,” CNN’s Jeff Zeleny reported that President Biden is now more receptive to these calls of concern,” from Democrat lawmakers, donors and strategists who have called on him to step down. 

The advisor further reported that conversations between Biden and Democrat leaders are ongoing. “He’s s being receptive, not as defiant as he is publicly,” Zeleny reported. Biden is also reportedly more open to the idea of Vice President Kamala Harris running a general election campaign after previously expressing concern over her ability to win.

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“I’m told now he’s asking questions saying, ‘do you think Kamala can win?’ Again, this advisor offers caution saying this it is still unclear where he’s going to land but he seems to be listening.”

The new report comes three weeks after President Biden’s disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

A number of Democrat lawmakers — including U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — have called on the president to step aside. Biden has remained defiant, at least publicly.

Speculation has once again accelerated after the president stated that he would consider dropping out under one condition, however. “If I had some medical condition that emerged,” he said. “If doctors came to me and said ‘you got this problem or that problem.’”

Former Trump Administration Trade Advisor Peter Navarro received a lengthy standing ovation at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Navarro arrived at the convention just hours after he was released from a federal prison in Miami for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the January 6 Committee, which was formed in violation of House rules. Navarro — much like former Trump Chief Advisor Steve Bannon — cited executive privilege when refusing to comply with the subpoena.

For this, he was held in contempt of Congress and ultimately sentenced to prison by an Obama-appointed federal judge.

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On Wednesday, Navarro was released from prison after serving a four-month sentence. He immediately traveled to Milwaukee and delivered his first public speaking event in a primetime slot at the Republican National Convention.

The trusted Trump advisor arrived on stage to a standing ovation that lasted for nearly a minute, while members of the RNC crowd chanted “fight, fight, fight” in reference to former President Trump’s iconic response to being shot at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania this past Saturday.

After joking that he picked up a new “MAGA tattoo” in prison, Navarro proceeded to deliver one of the most intense speeches of the convention.

“The legislative branch came for me first. Your favorite Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, executive privilege. What did I do? I refused. The J6 committee demanded that I break the law because they have no respect for it. I refused and a Democrat majority in the House then voted to hold me in contempt,” he said.

“All right, what happened next? The next jackboot to drop was the executive branch. Another one of your favorite Democrats, Democrat Attorney General Merrick Garland. There’s a winner. Jack Smith indicted and prosecuted me for criminal contempt of Congress,” he continued before noting that prominent Democrats like Garland and former Attorney General Eric Holder were never jailed despite also being held in contempt of Congress.

“This morning, I did walk out out of a federal prison in Miami. Joe Biden and his Department of Injustice put me there. Tonight I’m here with you in this beautiful city of Milwaukee. I’ve got a very simple message for you,” Navarro told the crowd.

“If they can come for me, if they can come for Donald Trump, be careful, they will come for you.”

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President Biden appeared to be struggling with the Air Force One staircase after his team abruptly cancelled a campaign event in Nevada, citing a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Biden was scheduled to speak at the UnidosUS conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, though his appearance was cancelled at the last minute. Janet Murguía, the president and CEO of UnidosUS, revealed that President Biden had tested positive for COVID-19.

Less than an hour after the event was cancelled, members of the White House press pool captured footage of the president boarding Air Force One. The president moved slowly as he ascended the short staircase and appeared to briefly pause about three-quarters of the way up.

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The abrupt cancellation has reignited speculation that the president will be dropping out of the race following his disastrous debate performance.

A number of Democrats have called on President Biden to step aside in recent weeks, while others have hinted at the possibility without explicitly calling for it. Biden has resisted calls to step down in a number of post-debate interviews, while Vice President Harris has also stood by his candidacy.

A recent interview has ignited speculation in the wake of Biden’s latest cancellation, however. When asked if there were anything that could get him to change his mind and step aside, the president stated that a serious illness would make him consider the possibility.

“If I had some medical condition that emerged,” Biden said. “If doctors came to me and said ‘you got this problem or that problem.’”

In the event that Biden did step aside, Vice President Harris would almost certainly be the Democratic nominee. If the party opted to go in another direction with an open convention, the new nominee would be unable to access the Biden Campaign’s war chest.

Wednesday’s diagnosis is not the first time President Biden — who received numerous vaccine booster shots — has tested positive for COVID-19. He was first diagnosed with the virus in July 2022, though he continued to work from the White House.

Shortly after testing negative and resuming his public schedule, Biden tested positive again in a phenomenon known as “COVID-19 rebound,” commonly associated with Paxlovid treatment. This rebound case was detected on July 30, 2022. His symptoms were once again described as mild.

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Jim Copenhaver, one of the two victims who were critically injured in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, has sustained “life-altering injuries,” his family announced in a statement.

Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township Pennsylvania, remains in the hospital, though his condition has improved since Saturday. Copenhaver was one of two rally goers who were critically wounded when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire with a rifle in Butler, Pennsylvania this past Saturday. David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, PA was identified as the other critically injured victim.

“The Copenhaver family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support for James ‘Jim’ as he recovers from the injuries that he tragically sustained during President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024,” his family said in a statement. “Jim would like to especially thank the first responders, medics, and hospital staff who have provided him with initial and continuing care. Additionally, Jim would like to express his thoughts and prayers for the other victims, their families, and President Trump. He prays for a safe and speedy recovery for them all.”

The family added that Copenhaver’s injuries were “life-altering.”

Joseph Feldman, a spokesperson for the Copenhaver family and attorney for the Law Offices of Max C. Feldman,  told Fox News that Jim was in critical but stable condition and is able to speak.

“He’s a tough guy,” Feldman said.

“The Copenhaver family would like to thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support as Jim and his family recover from this horrible, senseless, and unnecessary act of violence,” the family said.

Mr. Dutch also remains in stable condition as of Tuesday. A family friend told Fox News that Dutch — a Marine veteran — was hit with two bullets.

Corey Comperatore, a retired firefighter and father of two, has also been identified as the man who was killed in the attack. Comperatore has been hailed as a hero after he died shielding his wife and daughter from incoming gunfire.

In the days following Comperatore’s murder, a small memorial has been set up outside his former fire house, where Comperatore served as chief in the early 2000’s and remained a member throughout his life. Firefighters have displayed his gear out front and draped it with a black ribbon.

The Volunteer Fire Department in Buffalo Township, Pennsylvania is Displaying the Gear of their Former Fire Chief, Corey Comperatore who was Killed at yesterday’s Trump Campaign Rally in Butler County while Shielding his Daughters from Bullets fired by the Shooter, during the… pic.twitter.com/GAyRtXmB4w

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 15, 2024

Helen Comperatore, the widow of slain Trump rallygoer Corey Comperatore, spoke with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

“President Trump called me to share his condolences. He was very kind and said he would continue to call me in the days and weeks ahead,” Helen Comperatore wrote in a Facebook post. “I told him the same thing I told everyone else. He left this world a hero and god welcomed him in. He did not die in vain that day.”

Condolences and donations have poured in for the Comperatore family in the aftermath of his murder. One GoFundMe account started by family friend Jason Bubb began with a goal of $7,000. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had raised more than $1.1 million from more than 20,000 separate donations. Another GoFundMe set up for all of the victims of the shooting has raised just shy of $5 million from over 63,000 donations.

The community is planning a vigil for Comperatore on Wednesday night, while funeral arraignments have been set for Thursday.

A hilarious candid clip has surfaced of former President Donald Trump and his newly minted running-mate of Senator J.D. Vance backstage at the Republican National Convention.

The short clip, which was posted to social media by Donald Trump Jr., shows the former president, Vance and members of the Trump family just before they headed onto the convention floor on Tuesday. “How’s he playing on X?” Trump asked while motioning towards Vance. “How’s he trending on Truth? Much more important,” Trump joked. “He’s doing good on Truth right?”

Trump named Vance as his long-awaited vice-presidential nominee just hours before the Republican convention was set to begin on Monday. “After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

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Trump spoke highly of Vance’s successful work in technology and finance, as well as his highly regarded memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which details his struggles growing up in a declining American Midwest. It has long been believed that a potential Trump victory in 2024 will have to go through the Rust Belt, much like 2016.

“As Vice President, J.D. will continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our Troops, and will do everything he can to help me MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Congratulations to Senator J.D. Vance, his wife, Usha, who also graduated from Yale Law School, and their three beautiful children. MAGA2024!”

The two were both seen in public for the first time during the opening night of the convention on Monday.

Monday night also marked the first time former President Trump was seen in public since he narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania this past Saturday. A visibly emotional Trump made his entrance to a live rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA,” which serves as the former president’s entrance music at rallies.

The former president once again made an appearance during the second night of the convention on Tuesday night. He is expected to give his highly anticipated address on Thursday evening.

President Trump arrives at the RNC pic.twitter.com/w0Itfz6cB6

— Gary D (@KMGGaryde) July 17, 2024

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Conservative commentator and Secret Service veteran Dan Bongino made a stunning revelation about security failures leading up to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during an appearance on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast “Triggered.”

Bongino — who served in the Secret Service for 12 years — revealed that the rooftop from which would-be Trump assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at the former president was supposed to be covered by law enforcement personnel. This was reported to Bongino by an “unimpeachable source” with knowledge of the situation, he said.

“That post, according to my source, that roof was supposed to be a police post. It was supposed to be someone there. They’re now making up excuses, saying the pitch of the roof… my source says to me, no one knows why the post didn’t show up,” Bongino revealed. 

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He further revealed that Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle has been instructed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to “keep her mouth shut” about the case if she wants to remain in her post.

Bongino has repeatedly called on Cheatle to resign in the aftermath of the assassination attempt, something she has refused to do. Crooks fired from a rooftop with a clear line of sight located roughly 130 yards from the former president’s podium.

The building was reportedly identified as a high-profile security vulnerability by the Secret Service, though law enforcement personnel were not present on the rooftop. Security forces did take notice of Crooks roughly 30 minutes prior to the shooting, who was seen scoping out the building. One law enforcement asset — who was inside the building from the roof of which Crooks eventually fired — managed to snap a photo of the suspect, though he was not confronted.

On Tuesday, Cheatle attempted to offer an explanation for why the critical rooftop was left uncovered. “That building in particular has a sloped roof at its highest point. And so, you know, there’s a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn’t want to put somebody up on a sloped roof,” the Secret Service director said in a statement to ABC News. “And so, you know, the decision was made to secure the building, from inside.”

“They’re not putting that out there. But if you get those site post logs and those police instructions and it was a post on there and they didn’t show up and no one checked, someone could have got your dad killed,” Bongino said. “Within millimeters.”

Bongino followed up by stating that he will be revealing more details on his radio program.

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The Secret Service veteran has spoken at length about numerous “open security questions” surrounding the assassination attempt.

““You’re telling me the best technology you have was deployed and you missed a shooter 130 yards? Say it was 200 yards. The Secret Service CS team, Pete, the counter-sniper team? And I’m not sure those two guys are Secret Service. We have to remember that we don’t always, when we go to New York sometimes with high-level protectees we’ll use NYPD ESU counter-sniper. So I’m not really sure,” Bongino told Fox News in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

“Either way, they’d still be briefed in. The question we have to ask is, if that’s the best technology we have, and we had a CS team up there with a shooter that, you know, we’re trained out to a thousand yards in the Secret Service with the counter-sniper team. How did they miss someone at most, you know, one-fifth of the way there? It doesn’t make any sense.”

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Businessman and rising star in the conservative movement laid out a hopeful vision for America in a rousing speech at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday.

“We’re in the middle of a national identity crisis right now. Faith, patriotism, hard work, and family have disappeared, only to be replaced by race, gender, sexuality, and climate. But we’re not going to win this election just by criticizing the other side. We’re going to win this by standing for our own vision of who we really are,” Ramaswamy told the convention crowd in Milwaukee.

“What does it mean to be a Republican in the year 2024? What does it mean to be an American in the year 2024? It means we believe in the ideals of 1776. It means we believe in merit, that you get ahead in this country not on the color of your skin but on the content of your character and your contributions,” he continued. 

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Ramaswamy then touched on the crucial issue of illegal immigration and endorsed former President Trump’s plan for mass deportations. “I say this as the kid of legal immigrants to this country. That means your first act of entering this country cannot break the law. That is why we will seal the southern border on day one,” the former Republican presidential contender declared, drawing applause. “It means the people who we elect to run the government ought to be the ones who actually run the government, not unelected bureaucrats in the deep state.”

“These are not black ideas or white ideas. They are not even Democrat ideas or Republican ideas. They are American ideas that we fought a revolution to secure. They are American ideas that we fought a revolution to secure,” Ramaswamy continued before offering an enthusiastic endorsement of former President Trump.

“Vote Trump. If you want to restore law and order in this country, vote Trump. If you want to reignite the economy in this country, vote Trump. If you want to revive national pride in this country, vote Trump,” he said while getting what sounded like the entire arena to chant “VOTE TRUMP!”

An Ohio native, Ramaswamy has stated that he would be interested in serving as the state’s junior senator if appointed by Governor Mike DeWine. The governor is currently tasked with appointing a replacement who will serve for a little more than four years after Trump selected Senator J.D. Vance as his running-mate.

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