Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said Wednesday she believes the July 2024 assassination attempt against President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, involved what she described as “intentional negligence” by officials during the Biden administration.
Luna made the remarks during an appearance on the podcast “Pod Force One,” hosted by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine. Her comments focused on the handling of the initial investigation and security measures surrounding the rally.
“I think what is interesting about the initial investigation is…it was done under Biden, period,” Luna said. She questioned the role of federal agencies, including the FBI, in the aftermath of the shooting.
Luna referenced a separate incident involving cocaine discovered at the White House, arguing it reflected broader concerns about investigative transparency.
“This is the same FBI… that couldn’t locate who actually owned that bag of cocaine that was found in the White House,” she said.
The Florida congresswoman also raised concerns about security planning at the Butler rally. She said areas left unsecured created vulnerabilities that allowed the shooter to carry out the attack.
“The area that was left open was literally the perfect location to take a shot,” Luna said.
Luna said she questioned former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle during congressional hearings following the incident. She also cited whistleblower accounts she said suggested some security personnel were either absent or instructed to stand down.
“There was a group of snipers that were actually met that day… and they just so happened to not show up,” Luna said.
The Butler attack remains one of the most serious incidents involving a presidential candidate in recent years. Authorities said the gunman, identified as Thomas Crooks, fired multiple shots from a rooftop before being killed by the Secret Service.
Trump was struck in the ear during the shooting, and one rally attendee was killed. Several others were injured, according to officials.
Luna questioned aspects of the investigation that she said remain unresolved. She pointed to reports that the suspect possessed multiple phones and raised questions about other evidence.
“If this was just some random lone shooter, why did he have burner phones?” Luna said.
She added that she believes the circumstances surrounding the attack suggest a broader issue.
“To me, that has all the marks of intelligence, and I believe an inside job,” Luna said.
Despite her claims, Luna acknowledged that certain records related to the Butler investigation remain under federal control.
“The Butler assassination record is actually under the purview of release by President Trump himself,” she said.
She said it out loud.. 👀
🚨 Rep Luna — The Butler Assassination Attempt against President Trump had all the trademarks of an INSIDE JOB by the Intelligence Community
– intentional negligence
– Secret Seevice whistleblowers told me they were told to stand down, leaving open… pic.twitter.com/2M6Stodhpc— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) April 29, 2026
Rep. Luna drops bombshell: The Butler assassination attempt on President Trump had all the trademarks of an INSIDE JOB by the Intelligence Community. Intentional negligence
Secret Service whistleblowers: Told to “stand down,” leaving the perfect sniper location open
Biden… pic.twitter.com/pH1hRJEARo— Parler (@parler_social) April 30, 2026
WOW! The Butler Assassination attempt had all the earmarks of an inside job by Biden’s Intelligence Agency.
The plan was always to eliminate Trump in Butler, PA — everything after is the outcome of a failed assassination attempt. 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/VGomJUTSa7
— Z (@insatiablevine) April 29, 2026
Federal authorities have not publicly indicated that the attack involved a coordinated plot beyond the shooter. Investigations by law enforcement and congressional committees have focused on security failures and the actions of the suspect.
The Secret Service implemented operational changes following the incident, and Cheatle resigned as director after facing bipartisan scrutiny from lawmakers.
