Investigative journalist Laura Loomer has made a startling discovery. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was featured in a BlackRock ad in 2023.
BlackRock is a global investment management corporation that was founded in 1988 by Larry Fink. The company has grown to manage over $10 trillion in assets, offering a range of investment solutions including fixed income, equities, and alternative investments. BlackRock is also known for its Aladdin risk management platform and iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
The investigative journalist made this starling discovery earlier over the weekend on social media platform, X, where she stated that “Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20 year old shooter who tried assassinating President Donald Trump at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last night, was featured in a BlackRock @BlackRock ad in 2023! The ad was filmed at Bethel Park High School.”
According to the New York Post, Crooks was rejected from his school’s rifle team due to his poor marksmanship and off-colour jokes. Despite this, he was featured in a BlackRock commercial filmed at Bethel Park High School, where he had attempted to join the rifle team.
However, later on, Loomer went ahead to provide updates with regards to the discovery stating that the ad, published on February 24, 2023, was quietly deleted by BlackRock following Loomer’s report.
Loomer wrote – “Following the release of my report below, @BlackRock quietly deleted the video (seen below) that they filmed with Thomas Matthew Crooks, the Butler, Pennsylvania wannabe Trump assassin in 2023.
Blackrock didn’t issue a statement, but they did delete the video today.”
Loomer went ahead to issue a call for BlackRock to issue a statement regarding their involvement with Crooks. “They should issue a statement. I’m going to Keep talking about this.
11 MILLION VIEWS!!!”
The fact that Thomas Crooks was featured in a BlackRock ad in 2023 has raised questions about the company’s vetting process and its association with individuals who may hold extremist views, particularly from the perspective of Loomer who herself appears unlikely to let the investigation slide, as well as her demand for a statement over the issue from BlackRock.