How the Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump Unfolded

About the Project

The assassination attempt on Donald Trump during his Butler, Pa., campaign rally was the biggest breaking news story of 2024. On the ground in Butler, Pa., The Wall Street Journal gave readers real-time updates, first-person accounts, and analysis about the shooting that left one rally-goer dead and others, including the future president, injured.

Among the highlights of the first 72 hours:

• A sweeping and evocative story that was updated as the shooting unfolded, which included first-hand details, gripping photography from the scene, and an overhead graphic that showed how the shooter was able to target Trump.
• A first-person video from Journal reporter Ken Thomas, who was on scene to cover the rally.
• An analysis piece that highlighted how the shooting amplified the fears of an electorate on edge.
• A graphics-driven timeline that provided clear details about how the event unfolded.
• A live blog that provided updates about the incident in real time.
• An in-depth profile of the alleged shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks.
• A deep dive into the Secret Service’s most stunning security failure in decades.

The Journal’s coverage continued to be ahead of the pack in the weeks following the shooting. For example, a scoop about how Crooks flew a drone over the Butler rally site hours before the shooting was raised at a Congressional hearing with FBI Director Christopher Wray. Another Journal exclusive showed how the Secret Service clashed with local Pennsylvania law enforcement over security risks at the Trump event.