![true](https://static.politifact.com/CACHE/images/politifact/rulings/meter-false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.)
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A view of the site of the July 13, 2024, Trump campaign rally on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show, seen on July 22, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP)
ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas did not say the "government tried to kill former President Trump," as shortened social media videos claim.
In a report that aired July 24 on "Good Morning America," he used the word "gunman" several times and named the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, whom the Secret Service killed.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said the continuing investigation so far has not found that Crooks had any accomplices in the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Conspiracy theorists’ ears perked up July 24 when an ABC News reporter said what some people heard as his admitting the government was behind the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.
"ABC News Reporter Says "The Government Tried To Kill President Trump!" exclaimed one TikTok video, sharing a clip of ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas introducing a report about new body camera video shortly after the shooting at a July 13 Butler, Pennsylvania, campaign rally.
Multiple TikTok users shared the same video clip, which also went viral on X, and was shared by popular conservative accounts. Commentator Benny Johnson, wrote, "Uh — what did he say? ‘The Government tried to kill President Trump … ’"
The Washington Examiner, a conservative news outlet, wrote an article headlined, "ABC News correspondent appears to claim ‘government tried to kill’ Trump in viral clip."
Neither ABC nor Thomas provided comments for this story.
But a closer listen to Thomas’ words and the context of his full "Good Morning America" report, which wasn’t shared in the shortened social media clips, makes clear that he was talking about the incident’s "gunman," not "government."
Thomas said, "Our audience is about to see the frantic seconds in the moments after the gunman tried to kill former President Trump. It’s all caught on police body cam video. And warning to our family at home, what you’re about to see may be disturbing."
The videos shared on social media end there, but the full report makes clear what Thomas said, as he referred to the "gunman" three more times and the "shooter" twice, and named the dead gunman.
"This morning, new helmet-cam video obtained by ABC News showing the moments law enforcement raced to that roof after a sniper killed the gunman who opened fire at a Trump rally," Thomas said.
"Officers climbing up a ladder. In chilling detail the video shows an assault-style rifle lying next to the dead body of shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks," he said. "A trail of blood streaming down that sloped roof. An officer kneels down by the gunman. There appears to be a small device next to the shooter that was not seen earlier. The officer takes out the battery, then pulling out a phone as he checks the gunman’s pockets."
At no point in the report did Thomas say the government carried out the shooting. He spoke briefly about Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigning amid criticism of the agency’s handling of the Trump rally.
A look at ABC News July 24 coverage of the shooting and of stories Thomas reported shows no reports about a would-be assassin other than Crooks.
YouTube’s closed captioning on an ABC News video translated Thomas’ first use of the word "gunman" as "government"; all other mentions were translated as "gunman." A separate YouTube video posted by "Good Morning America" showed it was translated as "gunman" in closed captioning and in a transcript included in the video. A transcription from the Internet Archive, not an official transcript, used the word gunman, not government.
There have been numerous baseless claims that the assassination attempt was carried out by the Secret Service or staged by Trump. So far, investigators identified only Crooks, 20, as the perpetrator. Secret Service snipers killed Crooks moments after he fired.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee on July 24 and said there’s no evidence that Crooks had any accomplices, but the investigation continues.
With the context of Thomas’ statement clear, we rate claims that an ABC News reporter said the government tried to kill Trump False.
TikTok post, July 24, 2024
TikTok post, July 24, 2024
TikTok post, July 24, 2024
TikTok post, July 24, 2024
David Clements, X post, July 24, 2024
Benny Johnson, X post, July 24, 2024
Ryan Fournier, X post, July 24, 2024
Liz Churchill, X post, July 24, 2024
Washington Examiner, ABC News correspondent appears to claim ‘government tried to kill’ Trump in viral clip, July 24, 2024 (archived)
ABC News, YouTube, Good Morning America Top Stories, July 24, 2024
ABC News, Trump shooting updates: Shooter flew drone near site hours before shooting, July 24, 2024
ABC News, Trump shooter looked up Kennedy assassination details, FBI director says, July 24, 2024
ABC News, Pierre Thomas author page, accessed July 24, 2024
Good Morning America, X post, July 24, 2024
Good Morning America, YouTube, New video of Trump assassination attempt, July 24, 2024
Internet Archive, Good Morning America ABC, July 24, 2024
C-Span, FBI Director Testifies on Trump Assassination Attempt and Agency Oversight, Part 1, July 24, 2024
PolitiFact, PolitiFact’s coverage of the Donald Trump assassination attempt, July 25, 2024
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