Trump: Butler Shooter Had ‘Almost 1,600’ SAT Score, Was a ‘Smart Crazy Person’
Reflecto News | U.S. Politics | Analysis
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has offered a striking characterization of the man who attempted to assassinate him at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, describing Thomas Matthew Crooks as a “crazy person, but a smart crazy person” with an elite SAT score approaching a perfect 1,600.
“I can tell you the person in Butler, I don’t know if you ever looked at his academic credentials,” Trump said. “He had almost 1,600 on his college boards. 1,600. Nobody has. I mean, it’s the upper 99.9 percentile or something. And he was a crazy person, but a smart crazy person.”
The remarks, made during a recent interview, underscore Trump’s ongoing fascination with the profile of the 20-year-old who came close to killing him — and his struggle to reconcile the shooter’s evident intelligence with the act of political violence he committed.
Crooks’ Academic Profile: Near-Perfect SAT Score
According to FBI officials who briefed Trump following the July 13, 2024, shooting, Crooks scored higher than 1,500 on his SAT — a score that would place him in the running for admission to Ivy League universities such as Harvard, where the average score for admitted students is approximately 1,520 .
Trump’s recollection of “almost 1,600” is in line with reports from America First Legal, which obtained Crooks’ academic records from the Community College of Allegheny County and confirmed his SAT scores were at an elite level .
The national average SAT score is approximately 1,050, meaning Crooks scored in the 99th percentile or higher — a level of academic achievement achieved by fewer than one in every 1,000 test-takers .
Additional academic achievements:
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| High School | Bethel Park High School, graduated 2022 |
| Awards | Received $500 “Star Award” from National Math and Science Initiative for outstanding STEM performance |
| College | Earned associate’s degree with honors in engineering science from Community College of Allegheny County (May 2024) |
| University acceptance | Accepted to University of Pittsburgh as transfer student (declined); intended to enroll at Robert Morris University |
Federal agents who briefed Trump described Crooks as “strikingly intelligent,” according to multiple sources who spoke with ABC News after the August 1 briefing . The FBI also informed the former president that Crooks likely suffered from an undiagnosed disorder, noting that acquaintances and family members reported he “would routinely sway back and forth while standing at the bus stop” .
‘Smart Crazy Person’: The Riddle of the Shooter’s Profile
Trump’s characterization of Crooks as a “smart crazy person” reflects a tension evident in nearly every investigation into the shooter: the yawning gap between his intellectual promise and the inexplicable act of violence he committed.
Contradictions in the shooter’s profile:
| Contradiction | Details |
|---|---|
| High vs. low achievement | Near-perfect SAT, honors engineering degree — but rejected from high school rifle team for poor marksmanship |
| Political ambiguity | Registered Republican (May 2024) — but made $15 donation to progressive ActBlue PAC (Jan 20, 2021) |
| Social isolation | Described as “loner,” “outcast,” bullied “almost every day” — but worked a public-facing job at a nursing home |
| No manifesto | Unlike many political shooters, Crooks left no writings, suicide note, or social media screed explaining his motive |
| Military status | No military ties — but possessed a firearm legally purchased by his father and practiced at a shooting range |
A 1997 Secret Service study of those who have attempted assassinations since 1949 found that two-thirds of all attackers were described as “social isolates” — individuals with few close relationships and limited social integration. But the study also found no single indicator that could predict who would seek to take the life of a public figure.
“He sat by himself, didn’t talk to anyone, didn’t even try to make conversation. He was an odd kid, but nothing about him seemed dangerous.”
— Liam Campbell, former classmate (17), describing Crooks
Classmates at Bethel Park High School recalled Crooks as an intelligent loner who was frequently bullied for his choice of clothing — including hunting outfits — and for continuing to wear a face mask after the COVID-19 pandemic had ended .
“He was bullied almost every day. He was just an outcast.”
— Jason Kohler, former classmate
The FBI Briefing: ‘Strikingly Intelligent’ but Undiagnosed
On August 1, 2024 — nearly three weeks after the shooting — FBI officials sat down with Trump to brief him on new information they had uncovered about his would-be assassin .
What the FBI told Trump:
- Crooks was “strikingly intelligent” with elite SAT scores
- He likely suffered from an undiagnosed disorder
- His motive remained unknown despite extensive investigation
- He acted alone, and no evidence of co-conspirators had been found
The FBI noted that Crooks’ social media footprint was “thin” and that investigators had not found evidence of strong political beliefs that would suggest an ideological motive for the attack .
The Political Aftermath: A Mystery Unsolved
More than nine months after the shooting, the question of why Crooks opened fire remains unanswered. The FBI has cracked his cellphone, scoured his computer and home, and interviewed more than 100 people — yet no clear motive has emerged.
Trump has referenced Crooks multiple times on the campaign trail, frequently noting the shooter’s intelligence as a point of bewilderment.
The absence of a satisfactory explanation has led to comparisons with the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting — the deadliest such attack in U.S. history — where investigators closed their probe after 17 months without ever determining what drove the 64-year-old gunman to spray more than 1,000 rounds into a crowd of concertgoers. Officials concluded only that he “attained a certain degree of infamy” .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Did Thomas Crooks actually score 1,600 on the SAT?
Trump said Crooks had “almost 1,600.” Reports indicate Crooks scored higher than 1,500, which is in the 99th+ percentile. 1,600 is a perfect score; Crooks’ exact score has not been publicly released, but the FBI described him as “strikingly intelligent” .
Q2: What did Crooks do for a living?
At the time of the shooting, Crooks worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home. He had recently earned an associate’s degree with honors in engineering science .
Q3: Was Crooks a Republican or a Democrat?
Crooks was registered as a Republican in Pennsylvania (as of May 2024). However, when he was 17 years old, he made a $15 donation to ActBlue, a progressive PAC, on January 20, 2021 — the day Joe Biden was inaugurated. His political leanings remain ambiguous, and investigators have found no clear ideological motive .
Q4: What did classmates say about him?
Classmates described Crooks as a quiet, intelligent loner who was often bullied. He sat alone at lunch, wore headphones, and sometimes wore hunting clothes to school. One classmate said he was “bullied almost every day” .
Q5: Did Crooks have a history of mental health issues?
The FBI informed Trump that Crooks likely suffered from an undiagnosed disorder, citing reports that he would “routinely sway back and forth while standing at the bus stop.” However, he had no formal diagnosis or documented history of mental health treatment .
Q6: Has the FBI determined a motive?
No. Despite an extensive investigation, the FBI has not determined a motive for the shooting. Crooks left no manifesto, suicide note, or social media posts explaining his actions .
Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Trump’s claim | Butler shooter scored “almost 1,600” on SAT — “upper 99.9 percentile” |
| FBI assessment | Crooks was “strikingly intelligent” with likely undiagnosed disorder |
| Academic credentials | Honors engineering degree, National Math & Science award, accepted to Pitt |
| Social profile | Lonely, bullied, socially isolated “outcast” |
| Motive | Unknown — FBI investigation has not determined why |
| Political affiliation | Registered Republican; also donated to progressive PAC |
| Trump’s characterization | “Crazy person, but a smart crazy person” |
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