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By Hannah Parry
Associate News Editor
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Tucker Carlson has questioned President Donald Trump’s handling of the investigation into the July 2024 assassination attempt against him, claiming there are unanswered questions about the shooting and criticizing what he described as a lack of transparency from federal officials.
“I can’t think of a non-sinister reason for Trump to shut down an investigation into his own attempted murder,” Carlson said, in a preview of an interview with Stephen A. Smith on SiriusXM’s Straight Shooter.
Carlson said that he had personally pushed investigators and the FBI to let him review the evidence in the shooting at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman opened fire, killing one attendee and injuring Trump and others. Instead, he said Trump officials had "yelled at" him.
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"Turns out Trump told them not to release it, to shut down the investigation," Carlson added, without providing further evidence. Newsweek has not been able to independently verify Carlson’s claims about Trump’s involvement in decisions regarding the release of investigative information.
The former Fox News anchor added that he believes Trump changed significantly after the assassination attempt.
“I don’t think Trump was lying before,” Carlson said. “I think something changed him.”
Newsweek has reached out to the FBI and the White House via email for comment.
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What Is Known About the Butler Shooting Investigation
Authorities have confirmed that the July 13, 2024, shooting at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was carried out by Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired from a rooftop position near the rally site before being killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
The shooting killed rally attendee Corey Comperatore and injured two other attendees. Trump was struck by a bullet or fragment during the attack and survived.
Federal investigators have said Crooks acted alone, but officials have continued to face questions about the gunman’s motive, online activity and how he was able to access the location from which he fired.
Carlson Claims Trump Told Investigators To Shut Down Probe
During the interview, Carlson claimed he had pressed FBI officials for additional information about the investigation into the shooting, including questions about the gunman, Thomas Crooks.
The former Fox News host said he wanted more information about Crooks’ background, including his communications, online activity and training history.
“I pushed them really hard,” Carlson said, referring to conversations he said he had with FBI officials. “Why can’t we see this information?”
When Carlson kept pushing, he said the "yelled at me and called me names. The Trump people did.
"I'm pretty sure you're doing something wrong then if you're attacking me for asking. That's just a tell."
Carlson claimed Trump directed officials to stop releasing additional information about the investigation after concluding that Crooks acted alone.
"I know that Trump shut down the investigation into the Butler shooting. It doesn't make any sense," he said. "There's a lot of material that the FBI gathered into Thomas Crooks—who he was talking to on his burner phone, who he was talking to online, who he trained with at the range. They have tape of that. They've not released any of it."
Debunked Theories About the Butler Shooting
The July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump has generated a range of theories and speculation online, including claims that it was an inside job or part of a broader conspiracy.
Others claimed that the Secret Service deliberately failed to protect the president, or theorized that Trump was never struck by a bullet. None of the theories have been supported by publicly available evidence.
Officials have also pushed back on speculation that the shooting was staged or intentionally allowed to happen.
Federal investigators say the gunman acted alone and investigations have instead focused on security failures surrounding the rally, including how Crooks was able to access a rooftop position with a clear line of sight to the stage.
Carlson’s comments focus on transparency questions, including whether more information about Crooks’ background and the investigation should be released. However, his claim that Trump directed officials to end the investigation has not been independently verified.
Carlson Says Trump Changed After Assassination Attempt
Carlson said he initially viewed Trump as an outsider challenging both Republican and Democratic leadership when he first ran for president.
But Carlson argued that something changed after the Butler shooting.
“Somewhere along the line after that Butler shooting in July of 2024, he changed 180 degrees and started doing things that he ran against doing,” Carlson said.
When pressed by Smith on what caused that change, Carlson said he did not know.
“I don’t know,” Carlson said. “And if I did, I would say it instantly.”
Carlson Accuses Ted Cruz of Extremism
The interview also covered Carlson’s decision to interview controversial figures, including Nick Fuentes, and whether giving a platform to extremist voices risks normalizing them.
Carlson rejected that criticism and argued that mainstream political figures should also face scrutiny.
He singled out Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, calling him “one of the most extreme human beings I’ve ever met.”
Carlson accused Cruz of supporting policies that he said harmed civilians and later called him a “murderer,” saying Cruz had “blood on his hands.”
When Smith questioned the accusation, Carlson defended the statement.
“Well, it’s true,” Carlson said. “Ted Cruz is calling for the killing of innocents and funding it.”
Cruz has not publicly responded to Carlson’s comments. Newsweek reached out to Cruz for comment.
Interview Comes Amid Broader Debate Over Trump Investigations
Carlson’s comments come as scrutiny continues over the July 2024 shooting and questions about the transparency of investigations involving political violence.
The Butler shooting investigation has been examined by federal agencies and congressional lawmakers, with officials reviewing security failures and the circumstances that allowed the gunman to access a rooftop position near the rally site.
Carlson’s comments have renewed debate among Trump supporters and critics over how much information should be released publicly and what role political leaders should play in ongoing investigations.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gabe Whisnant and Gray R. Thomas
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