‘Searched for Biden’: Bombshell discovery on Trump shooter’s phone

Thomas Matthew Crooks’ chilling search history has emerged in the lead up to his almost deadly assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Thomas Matthew Crooks’ disturbing internet search history has now come to light, with investigators still trying to piece together the motive behind Saturday’s shooting.

The 20-year-old gunman was killed by Secret Service agents after shooting at Donald Trump as he spoke at a rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend, clipping the former president’s ear and killing a crowd member.

New details have emerged after the FBI were able to access Crooks’ mobile phones and other electronic devices. Agents being able to see that the gunman had searched, not only for images of Trump, but President Joe Biden as well, according to the New York Times.

There were reportedly also searches for Attorney-General Merrick B. Garland and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray.

An undated school yearbook image shows a photograph of Thomas Matthew Crooks.

The publication reports Crooks also searched for dates and places for appearances for both Mr Biden and Trump, with one of the latter’s planned events being 80km from the 20-year-old’s house in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

He also reportedly typed “major depressive disorder” into one of his devices.

According to an FBI investigative summary, the day before the assassination attempt, Crooks went to a shooting range. The following day he bought a ladder and then later purchased 50 rounds of ammunition from his a gun shop near his home.

He used his father’s AR-15 style rifle to carry out the attack, which had been purchased more than a decade earlier.

Multiple reports have claimed two homemade bombs were also found in Crooks’ car.

Earlier, it emerged that the 20-year-old’s parents reportedly called law enforcement hours before he assassinate Trump.

Crooks’ parents told police their son was missing and they were concerned for his welfare, a source told Fox News.

It is not clear what action police took what the information or if they were made aware Crooks was in possession of an AR-15 rifle.

Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. Picture: Rebecca Droke / AFP

Classmate reveals shooter’s possible motive

A former classmate of Crooks says the 20-year-old gunman once mocked him over his support of Trump and had a general disdain for mainstream politicians across the political aisle.

“I brought up the fact that I’m Hispanic and, you know, I’m for Trump. And he said, ‘Well, you’re Hispanic, so shouldn’t you hate Trump?’” Vincent Taormina told Fox News on Tuesday.

“No. He’s great. He was a great President. He called me stupid — or insinuated that I was stupid.”

It happened during a discussion in an English class during the 2016 campaign, he said. Trump, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders were all still in the race.

“He just did not like politicians, especially with the choices that we had,” Mr Taormina said. “He did not like our politicians.”

Mr Taormina that Crooks was usually quiet, except on certain topics that he seemed passionate about, including math and politics. And on those issues, he could be “smug [and] arrogant”, he added.

Pennsylvania resident Vincent Taormina. Picture: Michael Ruiz/Fox News

“He would just talk, talk and act like he knew everything, especially politics related, and he would say it in a tone that was like, ‘I’m better than you,’ in a type of way,” he said.

He also pushed back on reporting that Crooks was a complete loner. He had a friend group, he said, although it was both small and concerning.

“They were definitely the type, and they did, make threats to shoot up our school,” he said.

Although he and other classmates suspected Crooks himself was behind a threat, he said he had no firm proof. But after the threat came in, the future would-be assassin didn’t return to school for a few days.

Secret Service called into question

The US Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general announced that it is investigating the Secret Service’s handling of security at the campaign rally where the shooting occurred.

The office of DHS inspector general Joseph Cuffari said in an online posting that the probe is intended to “evaluate the United States Secret Service’s process for securing” the campaign event.

Mr Biden has also ordered an independent review of the Secret Service’s handling of the assassination attempt, which is also being investigated by the FBI as a case of potential domestic terrorism.

Donald Trump seen with his ear bandaged. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

In a rare Oval Office address a day after the attack, the US President sought to calm a divided nation by telling the country that it was time to lower the temperature of America’s hostile politics.

“It’s time to cool it down. We all have a responsibility to do that,” he said in a televised address following the attack.

As the country reeled from images of a bloodied Trump waving his fist after the gunman opened fire, Mr Biden added that US politics “must never be a literal battlefield, God forbid a killing field”.

During the address, he also mentioned the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack by pro-Trump supporters as proof that the situation is getting out of hand.

“We can’t allow this violence to be normalised,” the 81-year-old Democrat said, adding that the November 5 election would be a “time of testing” for the United States.