Mentally Ill Attackers Come For Trump, Shapiro

A new assassination plot and an arson attack showcase the nation’s glaring mental health problems.

_WHAT’S HAPPENING_

A pair of deadly plots drew national attention this week — one targeting a sitting governor, the other aimed at assassinating the president. In Pennsylvania, a man hurled Molotov cocktails into Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D) home while his family slept, later admitting he wanted to beat the governor with a hammer.

Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, a teenager allegedly murdered his mother and stepfather to fund a plan to kill President Donald Trump and trigger a white supremacist uprising. Both cases highlight extremist motivations — but also deep, seemingly untreated mental illnesses.

_THE FACTS_

The Arson attack:

  • Cody Balmer, 38, threw Molotov cocktails into Gov. Shapiro’s mansion while Shapiro and his family were inside.

  • Shapiro and his family escaped unharmed, though the mansion was heavily damaged.

  • Balmer told police he hated Shapiro and planned to beat him with a hammer if they met face-to-face.

  • He admitted to making the explosives, walking an hour to the mansion, and smashing windows before the attack.

  • His mother told CBS he was “mentally ill” and off his medication at the time.

  • Balmer had been arrested previously for forgery and theft.

The Trump assassination plot:

  • Nikita Casap, 17, is accused of killing his mother and stepfather to gain financial access to carry out a violent terror plot.

  • When he was arrested — driving his parents’ stolen vehicle — he had over $28,000 in stolen cash and jewelry, along with a revolver.

  • FBI documents say he followed the neo-Nazi Order of Nine Angles, the FBI claims is a "satanic cult" with "strong anti-Judaism, anti-Christian, and anti-Western ideologies.”

  • Agents recovered a manifesto outlining his plans to assassinate Trump, use drones as weapons, build bombs, and spark a war to “save the white race.”

  • Casap planned to flee to Ukraine after the attack.

Insider Analysis Locked

Every daily article includes insider analysis you won’t find anywhere else—sharp, uncensored, and ahead of the curve.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

Reply

or to participate.