The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
On July 13, 2024, former U.S. president Donald Trump was shot in the right ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, days before he was to accept the Republican party's nomination as its candidate for the 2024 elections. One attendee was killed and two others critically injured. The shooter, named as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was shot dead on the scene by Secret Service members.
Reactions to the attempted assassination were quick to come from jihadis of various affiliations. Many celebrated the news, while others advanced conspiracy theories over which party had orchestrated the shooting, suggesting either that it was an attempt to eliminate Trump by rival U.S. government officials or that foreign powers planned the "show" to bolster support for Trump and ensure his victory.
Supporters Of Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias: Shooting Was A Show, Was Punishment For Trump's Killing Of Soleimani
In their reactions to the shooting, Telegram channels supporting Iran-backed Iraqi Shi'ite militias suggested it was a show to gain sympathy for Trump, or described it as deserved punishment for Trump's ordering the targeted killing of IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in January 2020.
The "Shadow Man" channel commented: "I believe that Trump fabricated the game to gain sympathy for him in the elections."[1]
The "Shajab News" channel wrote: "Saudi Arabia and Mohammed bin Salman must offer prayers for their spiritual father."[2]
The "Al-Fatih 110" channel wrote: "Trump with an injured ear. He bought the presidency and ascended to it too early!" The channel quoted "American media" which supposedly reported that "the show of Trump's assassination is clearly an organized play."[3]
Sabereen News noted that in 2020, then-President Trump stated: "The American people and the world will enjoy security after the killing of (the martyr) Soleimani," while in 2024, "blood stains Trump's face." The channel commented on English: "Have a bad luck, bloody Trump."[4]
Jihadis In Syria Pray For Trump's Death, Increased Strife In America; Claim Senior U.S. Officials Planned Assassination
Syria-based Salafi-jihadis celebrated reports of the attempted assassination, claiming it was orchestrated by U.S. government officials in an attempt to eliminate the former president.
Saudi-born jihadi cleric 'Abdallah Al-Muhaysini prayed: "O Allah, ignite the fire of hatred and hostility between the oppressive criminals."[5]
Reporting that the shot missed Trump's head "by less than a centimeter" and the shooter was killed immediately, Syrian jihadi cleric Abu Yahya Al-Shami wrote: "It is as if the matter were planned, so that the secret of Trump's killer would be buried with him just as the secret of Kennedy's killer was buried." He added: "Senior government officials in America planned Trump's assassination out of fear of his becoming president again."[6]
Jihadi Telegram channel "Sada Idlib" [Echo of Idlib] celebrated: "Allah Akbar and praise to Allah. One of the heads of unbelief and atheism in America, former president Trump, was injured by a gunshot. This atheist shed the blood of thousands of Muslims. I ask Allah to hasten his death, amen, amen."[7]
Turkey-Based Al-Qaeda Supporter: Assassination Of Trump Would Destroy America, Shooting Engineered By Foreign Powers To Boost Trump Victory
Turkey-based Egyptian-born Al-Qaeda supporter Abu 'Ubaydah Al-Naqadi also celebrated the news, speculating on various conspiracy theories debating which foreign power orchestrated the near-assassination to ensure Trump's election.[8]
Reporting the "attempted killing of Trump" with celebratory emojis, Al-Naqadi added: "Hahaha take this," and forwarded an August 2023 post of his depiction of Trump in a coffin, with the caption "Trump's killing is the best scenario for the destruction of America."
Al-Naqadi livestreamed a one-hour 42-minute video on YouTube, in which he discussed reports of Israel's targeted killing of senior Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, the attempted assassination of Trump, and other issues.[9]
In another Telegram post, he wrote: "Trump has won irreversibly if he enters the race … I think it is not a complete show! … Rather, it is closest to a foreign act of support for his return! American intelligence reveled four months ago that Russian intelligence was working to support Trump and interfere in the elections, so this move is not unlikely for them! Because it is impossible that Biden would do this! He could have done that since the beginning of the [Trump] candidacy and before the debate! Or Israel did it to support him [Trump], but that is unlikely! However, they [Israel] want it this way to settle the issue in the Middle East, like we explained in the broadcast."[10]
Later on July 14, Al-Naqadi republished a series of Telegram posts originally posted between January and May 2024 containing his "old analytical and detailed articles about Trump's [predicted] return to the White House, the reasons for this, and its benefits ..."[11]
Iran-backed Iraqi militias and their supporters have threatened revenge against Trump in retaliation for his ordering of the killing of Soleimani.[12]
[1] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[2] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[3] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[4] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[5] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[6] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[7] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[8] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[9] Youtube, July 14, 2024.
[10] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[11] Telegram, July 14, 2024.
[12] See MEMRI JTTM Reports: Commanders Of Iran-Backed Militias In Iraq Mark Qassem Soleimani, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis Assassination Anniversary With Threats To End U.S. Presence In Iraq, West Asia; Vow Trump Will Pay Price, January 3, 2023; and In Video, IRGC-Affiliated Telegram Channel Threatens To Kill Former President Trump, Top U.S. Defense Officials In Retribution For Qassem Soleimani Assassination, January 9, 2023.
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