Melania Trump criticises police for not seizing Donald’s shooter sooner and says there is ‘definitely more’ to the case

10 September 2024, 21:05 | Updated: 10 September 2024, 21:10

Melania has vowed to uncover the truth
Melania has vowed to uncover the truth. Picture: Getty

By Charlie Duffield

Melania Trump has urged for an investigation to take place into the police responses to the attempted assasination of former President Donald Trump.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

In a video posted to X, the former first lady hit out at the "silence" around the investigation and vowed to uncover the truth.

In a powerful video, she tells viewers:"The attempt to end my husband's life was a horrible distressing experience.

"Now, the silence around it feels heavy. I can't help but wonder why didn't law enforcement officials arrest the shooter before the speech.

"There is definitely more to this story and we need to uncover the truth."

In the clip, the former first lady wore all black and had a black background with half of her body cast in darkness.

At the end of the video, there is a shot of her new memoir, an all-white book featuring the title, Melania, written on the front, alongside details of how to preorder.

When Trump was shot in the ear on July 13, the Secret Service and law enforcement were strongly critiqued during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Read More: Winter fuel payment axe to go ahead after more than 50 Labour MPs fail to back Starmer’s plan

Read More: William reveals delight at 'good news' that Kate's chemotherapy has finished but 'there's a long way to go'

The gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to shoot at the former president from a roof approximately 400 to 450 feet away from the stage.

An inquiry into the shooting showed that countersnipers were aware of Crook's presence for more than 100 minutes before the shooting.

Footage from the rally also reveals spectators pointing out the man before shots were heard.

Following the shooting, a haunting image was revealed of Crooks scrolling his phone mere minutes before the attack.

In the photos, the 20-year appeared relaxed, but the bodycam footage from police offices who confronted him on the roof, which was later unearthed, detailed the chaos unfolding.

In an additional bodycam video, officers seemed to be confused as to why the roof where Crooks shot from was unmanned.

One office could be heard saying: "I thought you were on the roof?"

There was also a lot of confusion regarding whether Crooks had been taken out and why it wasn't done before he opened fire.

"If you’d all had a gun up there … I’d have shot him," one officer said.

"He wouldn’t have ripped out a gun up there."

With more details emerging, and further critique, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned from her post after demands for her to step down from multiple House lawmakers.

In he resignation letter she said: "The Secret Service's solemn mission is to protect our nation's leaders and financial infrastructure. On July 13th, we fell short on that mission.

"The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases.

"As your Director, I take full responsibility for the security lapse."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

King Charles III And Queen Camilla

King and Queen set to meet Pope next month despite holy father's ill health

Breaking
This image taken from NASA video shows the SpaceX capsule carrying NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague.

NASA astronauts 'stranded' in space for months begin journey back to Earth in SpaceX Dragon capsule

Israel has launched the largest strikes on Gaza since the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, killing and injuring dozens while promising 'increasing military force'.

Israel launches 'extensive' strikes on Gaza killing '300' as Hamas says attack marks 'unilateral end to ceasefire'

Israel has launched the largest strikes on Gaza since the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, killing and injuring dozens while promising 'increasing military force'.

Israel launches 'extensive' deadly strikes on Gaza, which Hamas says indicate 'unilateral end to ceasefire'

Badenoch is expected to drop the party’s commitment to net zero, which the UK is legally required to reach by 2050, in a speech on Tuesday.

UK net zero target by 2050 is ‘impossible’ without bankrupting Britain, says Kemi Badenoch

John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, the last surviving pilot that served in the Battle of Britain, has passed away at the age of 105.

Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway dies aged 105

A selection of credit cards in a fan.

Almost 20,000 Civil Service credit cards to be frozen in government plans to halve number of cards and cut spending

MPs have been urged to support moves to ban smacking and other forms of physical punishment against children in England.

Ministers urged to back law change which will see smacking children to punish them banned

Polling station at Deptford Park School.

Russian networks tried to disrupt UK election but did not cause ‘notable’ impact, security minister says

IKEA store in Vilnius, Lithuania

Russian spies accused of firebombing Ikea store ‘because colours are the same as the Ukraine flag’

Facial recognition will be used to help passengers skip passport queues at ports.

British travellers arriving back in UK could 'avoid passport queues' with new facial recognition technology

The White House said Trump is ‘determined’ to get a peace deal in Ukraine over the line, as the US president gears up for talks for Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

‘We’ve never been closer to a peace deal’ in Ukraine, says White House ahead of Trump-Putin talks

A prison officer walks down the C wing at Wandsworth prison.

Number of prisoners reaches six-month high, despite thousands being released early to ease overcrowding

Richard Burrows, 80, was found guilty of 54 offences at Chester Crown Court on Monday, including indecent assault of boys, buggery, attempted buggery and indecency with a child.

Paedophile scout leader who spent 27 years on the run found guilty of dozens child sex abuse crimes

‘Iran will suffer the consequences’ - Trump raises prospect of war with Iran as Us attacks on Houthis continue

‘Iran will suffer the consequences’ - Trump raises prospect of war with Iran as US attacks on Houthis continue

Owen Cooper (l) and Stephen Graham (r) star in Adolescence

Revealed: Secret behind incredible camera shot in Netflix's new 'masterpiece' Adolescence