Former MSNBC host Joy Reid has reignited conspiracy theories about the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt against President Donald Trump during a Butler, Pennsylvania rally, questioning whether Trump was actually injured during what she termed the “alleged” shooting incident.
Reid appeared on Tuesday, September 2, on fellow former MSNBC host Katie Phang’s YouTube channel, where she expressed doubts about the extent of Trump’s injuries from the shooting. The conversation occurred as part of broader criticism regarding media coverage of Trump’s health over the past week.
During the discussion, Reid suggested that Trump had “magical doctors who claimed that he was shot in the ear, but his ear, I guess, grew back.” She questioned the lack of medical records from what she called the alleged assassination attempt, indicating the public has received insufficient documentation about Trump’s condition following the incident.
Phang interjected during the conversation, asking about investigative records and making disparaging remarks about Trump’s bandage, suggesting his ear appeared fine the day after the incident. Reid responded by recalling her time in mainstream media, where she faced criticism for questioning the absence of Trump’s medical records.
Reid compared her knowledge of the Trump assassination attempt unfavorably to historical incidents, stating she knew more about past political assassination attempts against former presidents Gerald Ford and William McKinley than the recent attempt against Trump. She criticized mainstream media for not demanding Trump’s medical records or additional information about the incident.
On July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots from an exposed rooftop roughly 157 yards away from the stage. The shooting resulted in Trump being struck in the ear, while volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore was killed shielding his family. Two other rally attendees sustained serious injuries before Secret Service snipers shot and killed Crooks.
Trump’s former White House physician, Ronny Jackson, issued a memo weeks after the shooting describing the then-presidential candidate’s “significant bleeding” from a wound approximately two centimeters wide, which resulted in “marked swelling” of his entire upper ear. Jackson noted at the time that the wound was healing.
This marks a continuation of Reid’s previous questioning of the assassination attempt. On July 18, 2024, just days after the shooting, she posted on social media platform Threads, raising multiple questions about the incident. Reid inquired about medical reports, the specific cause and nature of Trump’s injury, whether it resulted from shrapnel, glass, or a bullet, and the positioning of the three attendees who were shot relative to Trump’s location.
The assassination attempt led to significant scrutiny of the Secret Service regarding apparent security lapses at the event. Then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced harsh criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing following the shooting, with many calling for her resignation. Cheatle resigned on July 23, 2024.
A bipartisan House task force released a comprehensive report in December 2024, concluding that the tragic events in Butler, Pennsylvania were preventable.
In July 2025, six members of the Secret Service were placed on unpaid suspension in relation to the incident. The ongoing investigations and personnel actions reflect the continued scrutiny surrounding the security failures that enabled the assassination attempt.
Reid’s latest remarks come amid growing speculation on social media about Trump’s health, sparked by his unusually light public schedule over the Labor Day weekend and recent photos showing bruises on his hand. After days of speculation, Trump addressed the rumors Tuesday by emerging publicly and taking questions from the press.
The former MSNBC host was terminated from the network in February 2025, with her show “The ReidOut” being canceled. Network president Rebecca Kutler announced Reid’s departure in a memo to staff, thanking her for her contributions over the years and noting her recent recognition with a 2025 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News Series.
Reid currently hosts “The Joy Reid Show” on YouTube, where she continues offering commentary on news, politics, and culture. Her recent appearance on Phang’s channel demonstrates her continued willingness to voice controversial opinions about political figures and events, particularly regarding Trump and the circumstances surrounding the assassination attempt.
