Sam Stein & Will Sommer: Major MAGA Figures Say Trump’s Assassination Attempt Was Staged

Sam Stein and Will Sommer return to The Bulwark for their 'MAGA Mondays' segment, diving into a growing wave of conservative conspiracy theories questioning the authenticity of Donald Trump's 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. While initially propagated by liberal 'Blue Anon' circles, the narrative has now been adopted by prominent MAGA figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, and Joe Kent, who allege the event was staged or covered up by the Biden-led FBI and Secret Service. The hosts unpack the claims, emphasizing the lack of credible evidence and the logistical absurdity of staging such an event—especially involving a known poor marksman like Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was reportedly barred from his high school rifle team. They highlight key facts: Crooks had searched for bomb-making instructions, his parents alerted police before the attack, explosives were found in his car, and a Secret Service agent was recently caught leaking internal documents. The episode also touches on the broader cultural shift, with former MAGA loyalists now using conspiracy theories to express disillusionment with Trump. Despite the emotional weight of the event and the desire for a deeper narrative, the hosts argue that the evidence strongly supports the official account and that the conspiracy theories reflect political frustration more than factual basis.