CRBC News
Culture
Society
Security
Health
Conflict
Science
Technology
Politics
Environment
Lifestyle
Economy

Kash Patel Urges MAGA to Drop Butler Shooting Conspiracies After FBI Finds Attacker Acted Alone

FBI Director Kash Patel urged MAGA supporters to stop circulating unfounded theories about the man who tried to kill Donald Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally last June. Patel said social media incentives help explain why conspiracy narratives persist. The FBI concluded Thomas Matthew Crooks acted alone, had limited contacts, and did not disclose his intent. Conservative commentators and some Republican lawmakers have pushed back, while Dan Bongino publicly defended Patel.

03:26 PM, 11/23/2025Politics
Kash Patel Urges MAGA to Drop Butler Shooting Conspiracies After FBI Finds Attacker Acted Alone

FBI Director Kash Patel has called on supporters of former President Donald Trump to stop spreading baseless theories about the man who attempted to assassinate Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last June.

In an interview, Patel pointed to social media dynamics as a reason false narratives persist: "As to why people keep coming back to this on social media, the reality is, many people make a lot of money on social media pushing conspiracy theories for clicks," he said.

The FBI announced after completing its review that Thomas Matthew Crooks "had limited online and in-person interactions, planned and conducted the attack alone, and did not leak or share his intent to engage in the attack with anyone." Crooks was shot and killed during the incident.

Patel, 45, who previously worked in conservative media and has a history of promoting controversial theories in other contexts, has not advanced specific claims about the Butler attack itself.

Nonetheless, some supporters of the MAGA movement have continued to push alternative explanations, suggesting ties to antifa, a so-called "deep state," or foreign actors. Those theories have been amplified by some conservative commentators and prompted skepticism from a few Republican lawmakers.

Commentator Tucker Carlson suggested the agency might be withholding information, and Representatives Mike Kelly and Pat Fallon said they felt their inquiries were being "stonewalled" by the bureau.

Conservative commentator Dan Bongino, who joined Patel during the interview, publicly backed Patel and questioned why either he or Patel would have any motive to hide information from the former president: "I would ask the public: What motivation would Kash Patel and Dan Bongino possibly have to hide from their personal friend, not just their boss, the president, information about a crime where he was the victim? I don’t understand what the motivation would be," Bongino said.

Patel's message to political allies and the public was clear: rely on the bureau's investigative findings rather than speculation, avoid amplifying unverified claims, and be mindful that misinformation can spread quickly when it is profitable for some to promote it.

Similar Articles

Trending

Kash Patel Urges MAGA to Drop Butler Shooting Conspiracies After FBI Finds Attacker Acted Alone - CRBC News