Written by Daniel Morgan.

A man who attended the July 13 Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has released new footage showing the assassination attempt on the former president. Geoffrey Gronski, a rally attendee, shared the video on Twitter/X, adding fresh details to the chaotic event that had largely faded from public attention.

In the footage, Gronski captured the moments leading up to the attack, focusing on a projection screen where Trump discussed an immigration chart that he credits with saving his life. At around the 1:30 mark, the video shows Secret Service snipers looking toward the AGR building moments before Thomas Crooks allegedly opened fire from that location.

As shots rang out, a woman in the crowd screamed, “Get down, they’re shooting!” A man nearby, visibly shaken after the chaos, commented, “We go here, and then this happens.”

The Media Blackout and Gronski’s Decision

Gronski said he originally had no intention of releasing the footage but changed his mind after witnessing the media’s quick dismissal of the event. “They’re acting like it never happened,” he posted, expressing frustration at what he saw as a failure by mainstream outlets to investigate the truth. “The media’s job is to search for the truth, but you won’t find that with today’s MSM. I can’t withhold my video anymore.”

Gronski, whose wife unknowingly captured much of the crowd’s reaction, believes that the video offers more insight into the atmosphere at the rally than anything currently in circulation. He encouraged others who had filmed the event to release their own footage, though he acknowledged many attendees might find the experience too traumatic to relive.

“For some, watching the video they captured forces them to relive that day again and again. It’s personal and graphic, and they don’t want it out there,” Gronski explained. “For others, they worry the government won’t leave them alone if they release it.”

To ease their concerns, Gronski even offered to share footage anonymously on their behalf.

The Secret Service Response

In response to Gronski’s video, the Secret Service issued a statement, confirming they were “aware of and reviewing a variety of footage from July 13 as part of our mission assurance review.” The agency assured the public that they are committed to investigating the incident fully, vowing to examine the operational failure that led to the attack to prevent a repeat in the future.

“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to examining the processes, procedures, and factors that led to this operational failure, so that we can ensure it never happens again,” the statement read.

Our Take

The release of this new footage raises more questions than it answers. Why did the media so quickly lose interest in an assassination attempt on a former president? And why is there a lingering sense of fear among attendees about sharing their experiences? Gronski’s decision to post his video is commendable, but the reluctance of others to come forward speaks volumes about the atmosphere of mistrust in government oversight. This event underscores the growing divide between public expectations for transparency and the government’s ability—or willingness—to deliver. It’s bad for the country when citizens fear retribution for simply sharing the truth.