Trump Shooting: Footage You Weren't Meant to See

Donald Trump rally in Huntington, 2017. Photo courtesy of Office of the President of the United States. Public domain.

In one explosive moment, the roar of a rally crowd in rural Pennsylvania turned into a deafening silence broken only by screams, gunfire, and the thud of Secret Service agents hitting the ground.

Now, with new footage released in Fox Nation's "Art of the Surge: The Donald Trump Comeback," Americans can see the July 13, 2024, near-assassination of President Donald Trump through never-before-seen angles — and it's nothing short of terrifying.

A Rally That Nearly Ended in Tragedy

The Butler Farm Show rally was supposed to be a standard campaign stop in a critical battleground state. Instead, it became the scene of an assassination attempt that could have altered the course of American history. President Trump was speaking to a packed crowd when a bullet fired from 130 yards away grazed his ear. A supporter in the crowd was killed. Chaos exploded.

In the new documentary footage, viewers watch the harrowing moment unfold from drone shots, crowd-level camera feeds, and close-ups of the Secret Service detail. The panic is palpable — supporters diving for cover, agents surrounding Trump in a human wall, the camera jerking wildly as people scrambled for safety.

But then, something unexpected happens. As the Secret Service moves to evacuate him, Trump, blood streaking down his face, emerges from behind cover, pumps his fist in the air, and shouts a single word — "Fight!" the Irish Star reported.

The Shooter and the System That Failed

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old alleged shooter, was perched atop the American Glass Research building — a location outside the rally's designated secure perimeter. A congressional report released in December confirmed that local law enforcement failed to secure that rooftop despite internal warnings and visible lines of sight to the stage.

According to the FBI, Crooks had searched for events featuring both Trump and then-President Joe Biden, labeling the rally a "target of opportunity," according to PBS.

He fired eight shots before being killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.

The attack revealed serious gaps in communication between agencies. State and local police were on different radio channels. There was no unified command post. Despite repeated conversations about potential sniper vantage points, no security was posted on the building where Crooks ultimately carried out the attack.

The new footage, layered with a voiceover from Trump recounting the moment, drives home how close the country came to losing its sitting president. "130 yards is like sinking a one-foot putt," Trump said, according to the New York Post. "It's considered really close."

Inside the Docuseries

The two episodes of "Art of the Surge" — titled "The West Wing" and "Lost Tapes Uncovered" — go beyond just the shooting. Viewers see Cabinet meetings, campaign war room reactions to the 2024 Democratic Convention, and even Elon Musk discussing the election with his son. But it's the footage from Butler that grips the nation's attention.

One segment shows Crooks pacing on the rooftop just before opening fire. Another features Trump's security scrambling in real time, barking orders into earpieces while physically shielding him with their bodies.

The raw footage, edited into a sleek documentary narrative, allows viewers to feel the moment. The fear. The confusion. The shocking calm of Trump emerging from cover.

Love him or loathe him, it's a moment of undeniable composure under threat.

A Nation Reflects

For Trump supporters, the video is a rallying cry — proof of a leader who doesn't flinch under fire. For critics, it's a sobering reminder of how volatile the political environment has become. Either way, it's impossible to watch the footage and not feel something.

The congressional report has already led to calls for sweeping changes in Secret Service protocols. Its key recommendations include securing every potential line-of-sight at future events, improving inter-agency communications, and never assuming someone else has the perimeter covered.

This wasn't just a security lapse. It was a full-blown failure — one that nearly cost a president his life and did cost a citizen theirs.

References: Never-before-seen footage from Trump assassination attempt at Butler rally revealed in new documentary | Trump Assassination Attempt New Footage From Butler Rally!!! | New Trump assassination attempt video released showing graphic new details | 3 key findings on the Trump assassination attempt in Butler | Gunman who attempted Trump assassination saw Butler rally as ‘target of opportunity,' FBI says