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.
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