A new survey reveals that the majority of supporters of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden believe the 20-year-old man who attempted to assassinate the former president over the weekend is primarily responsible due to his mental health issues.
Conducted by Morning Consult, the survey asked respondents from both political camps about who they blamed for the conditions leading to the assassination attempt on Trump’s life. Sixty percent of Biden supporters and 69% of Trump supporters pointed to the shooter’s mental health as the primary factor.
Interestingly, when asked which candidate was more to blame for the incident, a larger number of respondents pointed to Trump over Biden. The survey found that 38% of all voters, including 60% of Biden supporters and 16% of Trump supporters, blamed Trump, whereas 29% of respondents, including 50% of Trump supporters and 8% of Biden supporters, blamed Biden.
American political rhetoric was cited by a majority as a contributing factor, with 62% of Biden supporters and 59% of Trump supporters agreeing. Additionally, 50% of all voters blamed social media, and nearly half, 45%, pointed to the media as an influential factor, according to the survey.
Despite the FBI’s efforts to unlock the mysteries behind Thomas Matthew Crooks’ motives—including examining his cellphone, computer, home, and car, and interviewing more than 100 people—questions remain unanswered about why he opened fire at Trump’s rally, only grazing the GOP nominee’s ear.
To date, there has been no public disclosure of any writings, suicide notes, social media posts, or other indicators explaining Crooks’ reasons for targeting Trump. An anonymous law enforcement official informed The Associated Press that Crooks’ phone has not yet provided any clues regarding his motive or whether he acted alone.
Crooks’ political affiliations also remain unclear. Although he was registered as a Republican in Pennsylvania, federal campaign finance records indicate he donated $15 to a progressive political action committee on January 20, 2021, the day of Joe Biden’s inauguration.