Author: openjargon

• Apple hit a milestone in its Indian market.
• Sales in its latest fiscal year hit nearly $8 billion in the country, Bloomberg reported.
• Apple execs have made it a point to grow in Asian markets in the past year as rivals push forward.

Apple scored a win in its fight to gain a foothold in Asia.

Bloomberg reported Monday that the tech giant's sales in the year through March in India hit nearly $8 billion, setting a record. It's a 33% jump from the $6 billion a year prior.

CEO Tim Cook has led an effort to strengthen Apple's presence in Asian markets. In the fiscal second-quarter earnings call, Cook said he felt "very optimistic" about his visit to Shanghai in March.

But India is also a key part of Apple's plans in the region, helping it diversify. CFO Luca Maestri named it among the countries that could help Apple offset declines in the Chinese market thanks to government bans and competition from rivals.

Although India's revenue represents only about 2% of Apple's $383 billion annual sales, it does show that the company's bet on an expanding Indian middle class is paying off. According to Bloomberg, iPhones accounted for over half of sales in the country, even though the Indian smartphone market is still dominated by cheaper handsets.

Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• I tried grilled-cheese recipes from Roy Choi, Ree Drummond, and Ina Garten to try to find the best.
• Garten's sandwich melted beautifully, and the smoky bacon added a nice contrasting flavor. 
• Drummond's grilled cheese had pizzazz, but Choi's is the perfect basic recipe.

Grilled cheese is the ultimate comfort food. It can be made with almost anything in your kitchen (vegetables, fruit, herbs) as long as cheese and bread are involved.

Plus, a well-made grilled cheese can keep a person on a budget fed like a king — which is great when most grocery prices are still so high.

On a mission to find the best grilled cheese out there, I tried recipes from celebrity chefs Roy Choi, Ree Drummond, and Ina Garten.

Here's how it went.

Choi's grilled cheese had the shortest ingredient list.

I've seen Choi's recipe circulate online in the past, so I was excited to try it. It was also the quickest and easiest of the three.

I procured a loaf of sourdough bread, unsalted butter, yellow cheddar, white cheddar, and Gruyère.

I'd also need a block of Parmesan and a cheese grater to finish things off.

Building the sandwich was simple.

I buttered one side of two pieces of sourdough bread and flipped them so the non-buttered side was facing up.

Then I added three slices of yellow cheddar, three slices of white cheddar, 1 ounce of grated Gruyère, and 1 ounce of grated Parmesan.

Once it was built, all I had to do was transfer the grilled cheese to my pan and wait for it to get toasty on both sides.

The finished sandwich was so cheesy and not at all stringy.

I could taste each layer of cheese in this sandwich, and they were all incredibly flavorful in their own right.

Whether due to the selection of cheeses or the lack of other ingredients, this sandwich was the least stringy of the three.

This definitely made it a little cleaner to eat, but I thought it lacked a little bit of the quintessential charm of a cheese pull.

Garten adds protein to her recipe.

Garten's ultimate grilled-cheese recipe called for thick-cut bacon, mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip), Dijon mustard, Parmesan, kosher salt, black pepper, Gruyére (or Comte), extra-sharp cheddar, and sourdough bread.

It also called for salted butter, but I substituted it with unsalted because that's what I keep in my house.

I started by whipping up a sauce to spread across the bread.

To make Garten's sauce, I mixed mustard, mayonnaise, Parmesan, pepper, and salt in a bowl. Then I took two pieces of sourdough and spread butter on one side and the sauce mixture on the other.

I placed the prepped bread sauce-side-up on my plate.

Before building the sandwich, I cooked the bacon according to the instructions on the package.

With my bread prepped and my bacon cooked, I got to building my sandwich.

I started by adding three slices of cooked bacon to the sauce side of one piece of bread. Then, I layered 1 ounce of extra-sharp cheddar and 1 ounce of Gruyère on the other slice.

The closed sandwich went into the pan to get toasty and melty.

Garten’s sandwich had stringy cheese and a smoky flavor.

Garten's grilled cheese was the stringiest of the three. The cheese oozed out of the sides, and the ingredients melded together perfectly.

There was a pleasing, savory, smoky kick from the bacon and the Gruyère, and every few bites, I got a kick of salt. I don't think I needed the salted butter at all.

Drummond’s grilled cheese called for extra produce.

Drummond's recipe is definitely cheese-heavy, but it's also colorful.

It called for poblano or Anaheim chiles, white vinegar, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, red onion, tomatoes, provolone, cheddar, and butter.

To make things easier for me, I decided to swap the red onion for a yellow one.

I usually prefer sourdough for grilled cheese, but Drummond's recipe called for softer rye.

Toasting the pepper gave it a great texture.

I popped one chile pepper into a pan on the stove and cooked it until the skin blackened.

The recipe recommended toasting the peppers over an open flame, but I have an electric stove, so the pan worked fine.

I soaked my sliced onions in some vinegar to mellow out the flavor.

To reduce any overbearing onion taste and bring out a little sweetness, I cut the onion into thin slices and submerged them in a small bowl of white vinegar.

Drummond's sauce was similar to Garten's.

Drummond's sauce was made with equal parts Dijon mustard and mayonnaise. I quickly blended it up in a bowl before prepping my bread.

There were more layers in this sandwich.

I slathered sauce across two pieces of rye bread and added butter to the other sides.

With the sauce side up, I added two slices of provolone, two thin slices of tomato, two slices of cheddar cheese, and the onions.

Before cutting up and adding the chiles, I removed the blackened skin and seeds.

Because the rye bread was softer than the sourdough, I cooked the sandwich over a lower heat. I wanted to sufficiently melt and bind the cheese without burning the bread.

The texture was the star of Drummond's sandwich.

The onions added a crisp snap, but thanks to the vinegar bath, they weren't overbearing. The standout flavor was actually the mustard in the sauce.

It's certainly a different take on grilled cheese, but I'm definitely going to keep this recipe around.

You can't go wrong with a basic recipe, and Choi nailed it.

All three of these recipes were so tasty. But I was most impressed by Choi's perfect blend of cheesy flavors. It's my new staple grilled-cheese recipe.

I'm still memorizing Drummond's recipe to impress my friends at a barbecue or cute night in. It's a sneaky way to eat more produce and was lighter overall.

The rye also surprised me and opened my mind to other bread possibilities.

Garten's recipe wasn't bad by any means — in fact, I think it had the best melt. But I don't think I'll reach for it that often when I want a grilled cheese.

Click to check out the other celebrity-chef recipes we've put head-to-head so far.

• Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Trump's classified documents case Monday.
• She wrote the Special Counsel failed to brief her on other remedies beyond dismissal.
• "Startlingly, the Special Counsel submitted nothing" during a "lengthy hearing," Cannon wrote.

Judge Aileen Cannon didn't just throw out the criminal charges alleging Donald Trump mishandled classified documents — she also suggested Special Counsel Jack Smith didn't take her seriously enough.

In her shocking 93-page ruling on Monday, Cannon concluded the appointment of Smith as a special prosecutor in the case was unconstitutional.

The legality of special counsels has been debated for years, and Cannon wrote Monday that Congress needs to bestow such legal powers.

Cannon also wrote the Special Counsel had a "full and fair opportunity" to brief her on other remedies besides dismissing the case.

"Yet startlingly, the Special Counsel submitted nothing on the topic of the proper remedy for the Appointments Clause issue, despite challenging dismissal as a remedy," Cannon wrote.

Cannon said Smith's team instead asked for "some additional briefing" on the issue, but it was too late.

"This last-minute reference to conditional supplemental briefing … in no way signals a lack of a full and fair opportunity given to all parties to brief their positions," Cannon concluded.

Before issuing the decision, Cannon took the step of allowing amicus briefs — arguments from third parties unrelated to the case — over the legality of special counsels, something that's rarely done in criminal cases on a district court level. Several right-leaning groups, along with two former US Attorneys General who served in Republican presidential administrations — argued against the special counsel appointments.

Some legal groups and allies of Trump urged the Supreme Court to weigh in on the legality of special counsels when it heard arguments related to presidential immunity earlier this year. The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision granting presidents broad criminal immunity powers, ultimately didn't take it up. In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas said he believed most special counsels were unconstitutional, but none of the other eight justices joined his opinion.

The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

• Ukraine has made monumental efforts to scale-up its defense industry since Russia's invasion began.
• Kyiv barely made any weapons at the start, but now it's producing drones, artillery, and more.
• Despite the country's successes, a senior official said Ukraine still needs more energetics.

Ukraine is rapidly producing a variety of homemade weapons as its defense industry aims to meet the needs and demands of soldiers fighting on the front lines. But a senior official says Kyiv still needs more of a key ingredient to keep the arms flowing.

Before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine was barely producing any weaponry for its armed forces and was relying heavily on pre-existing stocks of Soviet-era supplies and support from international partners. Now, the country is cranking out its own drones, artillery, missiles, and more at a breakneck pace to supplement this inventory.

"I don't focus much on thinking how we made it, but we made it," Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine's minister of strategic industries, told Business Insider last week on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington.

"We've got a few challenges, just a few. One is energetics — explosives and propellants — and probably that's it," Kmayshin explained, reflecting on Ukraine's efforts to boost its defense output. "No one is making enough," he said, and that is a global challenge. "So the more you get, the more ammunition you produce."

Ukraine has received tens of billions of dollars in security assistance from NATO since the onset of the war, including more than $53 billion from the US alone. But as the conflict has progressed, the local defense industry has steadily contributed more and more of its own military hardware to Kyiv's front-line forces.

These domestic efforts supplement the provision of foreign weapons. Kamyshin said Ukraine will always be reliant on Western support because there's no one country that can outproduce Russia right now.

Russia also has weapons flowing in from abroad — most publicly from North Korea and Iran. But Moscow has also invested a significant share of its GDP into military spending and placed the economy on what experts say is a Soviet-style war footing.

The rapid production of weapons inside Russia has triggered alarm bells among some NATO allies, and it has underscored the need for Ukraine to prioritize local manufacturing, which is helping to grow the domestic economy.\

From breadbasket to arsenal

"We are putting in the war everything we have," Kamyshin said, noting that most of the budget goes into the war. He said that Ukraine can't beat Russia when it comes to funding and manpower, so it is focused on quality over quantity.

"That's why we have to outperform in the quality of weapons, in the quality of people, and that's the only way we can withstand," he said.

One notable area of success in this war has been Ukraine's local drone development program. Kyiv has used long-range attack drones to target military and energy facilities deep inside Russian territory and has relied on naval drones packed with explosives to hammer Moscow's warships in the Black Sea.

Ukraine is also producing lots of first-person view (FPV) drones, which have been an ever-present force on the battlefield, functioning as a cheap way to deliver precision strikes on enemy armor and personnel.

And drones are not its only innovations. Ukraine also developed a homemade anti-ship missile, the Neptune missile, and used it to sink the Russian cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, early in the war. Kyiv later modified the missile for land attack.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is taking greater steps to further integrate its domestic defense industry with those of NATO and the European Union. Kyiv recently opened an office in Washington to achieve that goal and has encouraged deeper collaboration with Western arms manufacturers.

"They called us the 'breadbasket' of [the] Soviet Union. Then they called us the 'breadbasket' of Europe," Kamyshin said. "We've been always a good, a peaceful, nice agricultural country. I was farming myself."

"At some point, they came and started killing us. We had to learn how to fight" again, he said. "It was not our decision to switch from being a breadbasket to being the arsenal."

The role of chief marketing officer has never been more complex than it is today.

Digital transformation, economic upheaval, societal change, and a fragmented media landscape are just some of the intricacies marketing leaders are confronting.

CMO Insider presents profiles, case studies, research, and personal perspectives, to inspire and inform CMOs and their teams as they build and grow their brands.

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• Trump says all criminal trials against him should be halted after assassination attempt.
• He suggests Biden could demonstrate unity by asking the DOJ to drop the charges.
• Some Trump allies have echoed his call for charges to be dropped.

In the wake of an assassination attempt against him, Donald Trump has an idea to unite the country: stop prosecuting him.

The former president's rallying cry that he is a victim of political persecution is only growing louder since a 20-year-old shooter tried to kill him at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Shortly after a Florida judge dismissed the classified documents case against Trump, Trump urged in a post on Truth Social on Monday that all remaining charges against him should be dropped.

"As we move forward in Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts," Trump wrote in his post, listing out all the cases he thinks should be dropped.

"The Democrat Justice Department coordinated ALL of these Political Attacks, which are an Election Interference conspiracy against Joe Biden's Political Opponent, ME. Let us come together to END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!" he continued on Truth Social.

Trump also suggested to the The New York Post on Sunday that, in light of Saturday's violence, things could be more civil now between his and Joe Biden's presidential campaigns.

Without providing any details, Trump told the Post "we hear" that Biden will order the Department of Justice to drop its criminal cases against Trump.

One of those cases, the Florida classified documents case, was dismissed by a Trump-appointed judge on Monday, though Biden wouldn't have played any role in the federal judge's ruling.

The DOJ has historically operated independently from the executive branch; there's also no indication that Biden has orchestrated the charges against Trump, or that he'd order them to be dropped.

The Biden campaign declined to comment. The White House, the Trump campaign, and the DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Trump's comments reinforce his frequent message that Biden has been personally directing the criminal cases against him, even the ones in state court.

Trump and the GOP have repeatedly alleged, long before Saturday's shooting, that Biden is behind the charges against Trump.

And Trump isn't the only one suggesting he should now be spared from criminal prosecution for the good of the country.

Trump's former national security advisor Robert O'Brien posted a joint statement with Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah, urging the charges be dropped.

"We've got to take the political temperature down, as evidenced by what happened in PA today," O'Brien wrote in a post on X. "We call on President Biden to immediately order that all federal criminal charges against President Trump be dropped, and to ask the governors of New York and Georgia to do the same."

"Such a gesture would help heal wounds and allow all Americans to take a deep breath and reflect on how we got here," the statement on X continued. "Our prayers are with the victims of the shooting, President Trump and our country."

Politicians on both sides of the aisle, including Biden, have been calling for peace and unity as Americans are increasingly worried about political violence breaking out.

In an address from the Oval Office on Sunday, Biden urged Americans to remain calm and resolve their political disputes peacefully.

"The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people, not in the hands of a would-be assassin," the president said. "The path forward, through competing visions of the campaign, should always be resolved peacefully, not through acts of violence."

The president has also ordered an independent investigation into the security at Trump's rally.

• I dined at the Chez L'Ami Louis in Paris, which was just bought by the richest man in Europe. 
• The bistro's famous $130 roast chicken was incredible, and the portion was large.
• The food was delicious, and I wasn't mad that our meal cost 272 euros (just under $300).  

As a local to Paris for 15 years, I've often passed by the red-checkered curtains of Chez L'Ami Louis.

The seemingly exorbitant prices displayed on the menu by the door have long kept me from heading inside, but it's no secret this 100-year-old Haut Marais hot spot is among the city's most famous bistros.

It's even said to have welcomed famous patrons like Bill Clinton, David Beckham, Francis Ford Coppola, Keanu Reeves, and Brad Pitt.

With such a reputation, it's perhaps not surprising Europe's richest man, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, bought a majority stake in the bistro in June. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

In a statement, LVMH (the French luxury-goods conglomerate that owns big names like Louis Vuitton) called Chez L'Ami Louis "a go-to destination for those seeking an authentic culinary experience in the capital."

Even so, the bistro has famously had mixed reviews — it has 3.5 stars on Yelp, and a common criticism is that its prices are far too high.

Either way, I was curious to try Chez L'Ami Louis and form my own impression.

It was easier to make a reservation in person than by phone

The restaurant only has about 12 tables, so I knew making a reservation was my best bet if I wanted to get dinner here.

Reservations can't be made online, and I tried to make one by calling but was unsuccessful. (After reading many reviews, it seems it can be hard to get someone from the bistro on the phone).

Since I live nearby, I tried my luck visiting in person on a Wednesday morning in late June. Even before the lunch seating, the atmosphere at Chez L'Ami Louis appeared inviting.

As I entered the pre-war space, I was greeted by crates of fresh fruits and vegetables covering the aged wooden tables. Half a dozen staff were bringing the bistro back to life following its two-day repose (it's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).

I walked to the back counter, where a solemn man asked if he could assist me. I asked for a reservation in French — a table for two, s'il vous plaît.

He studied his notebook and suggested a dinner seating for the following week. I eagerly booked a table for two on Sunday night.

Our reservation almost fell through, but we got lucky

My husband and I arrived at Chez L'Ami Louis promptly at 8 p.m. on the night of our dinner date.

The wait staff was in the midst of their nightly plating performance as I slinked past the 12 buzzing tables to let the host know we'd arrived.

After glancing at the reservation list, he looked back up at me and shook his head. He asked if I'd called yesterday to confirm my table, and my heart sank.

I'd misunderstood when I made my reservation: I had been expecting a confirmation call from them, as is the standard practice by many top restaurants.

Maybe the maître d' was moved by the dumbfounded, desperate look on my face, or we just got lucky. He told us to come back at 9 p.m.

When we returned, all eyes were on us

After a convivial apéritif in the neighborhood, we returned to the same curious stares from diners who were now onto their next courses. I smiled graciously as a nook was cleared, and we settled into the salmon-cloth-covered table.

Oval mirrors lined the brown lacquered walls, and the trippy black-and-white tiled floor felt like a statement. Near the open kitchen, baskets overflowing with ripe fruit looked prepped for a royal banquet.

A server in a white button-down and black tie brought us menus, and asked if we preferred still or sparkling water.

The prices were still a bit tough to swallow

I was tempted to order the fish of the day, but the price seemed so high — 150 euros (about $163) — that I'm not sure I would've been able to really enjoy it.

Was the côte de bœuf (rib steak) for two more reasonable at 205 euros? I wasn't sure. I've seen fish and meat dishes cost less at even Michelin-star restaurants.

We settled on the signature dishes of escargot (50 euros) and roast chicken (clearly for two with a price tag of 120 euros), then asked for the wine list.

A leather-bound tome arrived with an extensive selection of wines from around the country.

The bistro's well-stocked cellar apparently has thousands of bottles. With house wine at 25 euros a glass, we ordered a half bottle of Bordeaux at 65 euros, which felt like a bargain.

An international crew of locals and tourists surrounded us

While devouring a sky-high plate of toasted baguette with heavenly demi-sel (slightly salted) butter, I scanned the animated space to discover a room filled with faces both local and foreign.

At a nearby table, I recognized a fashion model used in a campaign by a Parisian brand whose clothing I happened to be wearing. The ladies next to us were from Toronto and eager to share details of their stellar meal.

To our other side sat a group of Frenchmen who appeared to be regulars, engaged in spirited conversation with the person who seemed to be running the bistro.

Our first dish arrived — and every buttery bite of it was sensational

Our anticipation grew along with our appetites as we observed overflowing trays of grilled beef and roast chicken passing overhead.

At last, our escargot arrived dripping in butter and garlic. We savored every one of our dozen succulent snails.

Once the bread and butter were deftly whisked away and the silverware refreshed, the main act began.

I quickly learned why the roast chicken is one of the bistro's famous dishes

After a brief acquaintance with our roast chicken, it was returned to us in parts and accompanied by a towering plate of shoestring fries.

With his first bite, my husband announced, "This is the best roast chicken I've ever had."

With a mouthful of tender, wood-oven-roasted chicken, I nodded in agreement. I also couldn't resist dripping the fries into the rich gravy composed of goose fat and butter.

By the second serving of the chicken (which, in its entirety, I think could've easily fed a family of four), my husband accurately described the meal as "French traditional eating at an excess."

Perhaps it's the excess that makes this restaurant worthy of its elite status.

I wish I'd saved more room for dessert

After our meal, we were so full that I understood why the lighter triple serving of seasonal red fruits with freshly whipped cream (26 euros) was a popular dessert choice.

But tempted by chocolate, we ordered the rich gateau au chocolat (25 euros) and were not surprised by the generous portion. It was more than enough for the two of us.

The chocolate cake was creamy, decadent, and very much on the sweet side. It was easy to inhale, and I particularly enjoyed its crunchy bottom layer.

Our meal cost nearly 300 euros, but I left with a smile on my face

Without cleaning my dessert plate, we paid the bill totaling 272 euros and left the still-bustling bistro smiling and satiated.

Maybe Arnault was just as charmed by his own Chez L'Ami Louis dining experience — so much so that he felt inspired to add the bistro to his portfolio.

But as for me, I'd definitely recommend Chez L'Ami Louis to those looking for an authentic French bistro experience. Just make sure you confirm your booking, dine with gourmands, and stay open to asking for a doggie bag.

• Over the last 18 days, the 2024 race has been totally upended — in Trump's favor.
• It began with Biden's debate meltdown and the two weeks of Democratic infighting that followed.
• Fresh off of surviving an assassination attempt, he's now been given a victory in his docs case.

There's no denying it: Donald Trump is experiencing an incredible stroke of luck.

The former president is headed into this week's Republican National Convention with the political wind at his back, fresh off of surviving an assassination attempt as the Democratic Party struggles with whether to stick with President Joe Biden after his disastrous debate performance.

On Monday, Trump got another victory, at least for now: Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the federal government's classified documents case against him.

Polling has shown that Trump's lead over President Joe Biden has only continued to grow, and it's difficult to see how Democrats will be able to turn that around. It may be the luckiest 18 days that any presidential candidate has ever had.

June 27: Biden's debate meltdown

We all know it by now: The first debate was an unmitigated disaster for Biden, with the president appearing frail, stumbling over his own words, and occasionally uttering nonsensical phrases.

Biden's performance cemented long-standing concerns among voters, including most Democrats, that the president is too old to seek another term. Trump may be only a few years younger than Biden, and he did tell numerous lies at the debate, but he was able to deliver an energetic-enough performance that ensured the focus remained on Biden.

Even more harmful for the president was the debate-about-the-debate that consumed the following two weeks, with Democrats engaging in a very public disagreement over whether Biden still represents their best shot at beating Trump.

Twenty House Democrats and one Democratic senator have publicly called for Biden to withdraw from the race, while several others have simply observed that barring a course correction, Trump is likely to win the election in November.

Those discussions largely went quiet in the wake of the attempt on Trump's life, but they're unlikely to completely stop, especially if subsequent events lead to a continued polling boost for the former president.

July 13: Surviving an assassination attempt

At a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, Trump narrowly avoided an attempt on his life.

On the one hand, Trump is simply lucky that he didn't die: One of the gunman's bullets grazed his ear. If he had been standing even an inch to the right, he may have been fatally wounded.

"I'm not supposed to be here, I'm supposed to be dead," Trump told the New York Post. "By luck or by God, many people are saying it's by God I'm still here."

But there's also no denying the political advantage that the attempted assassination gives Trump.

While he and his allies have long stoked political violence — particularly the January 6 attack on the US Capitol — the narrow miss allows Trump to flip that script and credibly portray himself as the victim of political violence, even if the motive of the shooter remains unclear.

On Sunday, Trump said he would deliver a speech focused on unity, rather than attacking Biden, on Thursday at the RNC.

There's also the enduring power of the images of Trump raising his fist at the rally immediately after he was shot.

Those images are likely to be a powerful motivator for his supporters, driving up enthusiasm ahead of the election.

July 15: A judge dismisses Trump's classified documents case

On Monday, Trump received another dose of good news.

Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the federal government's classified documents case against Trump, ruling that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional.

The case, widely perceived to be the most potent against the former president, isn't totally dead yet. Smith is likely to appeal the judge's decision, and it could ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.

But at the very least, Cannon's move delays the case further and provides an important morale boost for the president and his supporters going into the convention.

It also underscores the enduring impact that Trump's first term had on the American judicial system: Cannon was nominated by Trump in 2020 and confirmed by the Senate, then controlled by Republicans, later that year.

• A shooter armed with an AR-15 rifle opened fire on Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.
• The FBI said it is working "tirelessly" to identify a motive behind the attempted assassination.
• Acquaintances of the man who conducted the shooting said they were in shock. 

As details emerge about the background of the man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump, his motive remains a mystery.

The shooter, who has been named Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, tried to kill Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.

Investigators said that he fired multiple rounds from a rooftop around 150 meters away from the former president using an AR-15 rifle.

He killed one rally-goer and critically injured two others before being shot dead by a Secret Service counter-sniper, who was on another rooftop.

Trump said on Saturday that a bullet had "pierced the upper part of my right ear."

Secret Service agents rushed onto the stage to shield Trump amid gunfire. As he was led offstage, Trump was pictured raising his fist in defiance, his face streaked with blood, as he shouted: "Fight."

There remain many unanswered questions about the shooter, who one acquaintance described as a nice but shy person.

Neighbors told The Financial Times they had been shocked by the events but did not know the family or the shooter. "Nobody knows him around here," one said.

According to reports, Crooks lived with his parents in a Bethel Park suburb and worked in a local nursing home kitchen.

In 2022, he graduated from Bethel Park High School with a prize for math and science, which was also awarded to around a dozen other students, reported the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. According to voter records, he was a registered Republican, but he also donated $15 to ActBlue, a liberal group, in 2021.

No identified motive

Law enforcement agents told US media they're searching for evidence of what led the shooter to try to kill Trump.

The FBI did not "currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was," Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek told ABC News."

Rojek said the FBI's initial investigation indicated that the shooter acted alone, and authorities have not yet "identified an ideology" related to the shooting.

"At this time, we have no indication of mental health issues," Rojek said. "Our primary focus is on the phone. We are working to get access to the phone."

The FBI told the Associated Press that investigators were trying to access Crooks' phone and that an initial examination of his communications and social media posts revealed no ideological motive.

Identifying an ideology that may have driven the shooter to attack the former president is vital to unraveling how such an incident could have taken place, quelling conspiracy theories, and preventing any further violence.

During a brief press conference from the White House, President Joe Biden said investigators had not yet determined Crooks' motive.

"I urge everyone, please: don't make assumptions about his motives or his affiliations," Biden said. "Let the FBI do their job."

Discord, the online community platform, said it'd found an old account apparently linked to the shooter, though he'd not used it to express political views, it told news outlets.

The FBI told the AP he appeared to have acted alone and had bomb-making materials in the vehicle he drove to the rally.

An ex-elementary and high school classmate of Crooks', Jameson Myers, told ABC News that the shooter didn't make the cut for the high school rifle team because of his poor marksmanship.

'He would sit alone at lunch'

Classmate Max R. Smith told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the shooter had expressed conservative political views in school.

He said in mock debates at school "the majority of the class were on the liberal side, but Tom, no matter what, always stood his ground on the conservative side," Smith reportedly said.

"That's still the picture I have of him. Just standing alone on one side while the rest of the class was on the other."

High school classmate Jason Kohler, 21, told NBC News that the shooter had been a "loner" who was "bullied so much in high school."

Kohler told the outlet the shooter wore hunting outfits to school and was bullied for his attire.

"He would sit alone at lunch. He was just the outcast," Kohler said. "It's honestly kind of sad."

Other question the bullied loner narrative. Jim Knapp, who retired from his job as the school counselor at Bethel Park High School in 2022, told Reuters that Crooks had always been "quiet as a church mouse' and "respectful".

He "wasn't a needy type kid," Knapp said. "Kids weren't calling him names, kids weren't bullying him," he added

Michael Dudjak, 20, told the outfit he hadn't seen the shooter being bullied, but he was "on his own a lot."

He said the shooter hadn't expressed strong political opinions at school or been particularly active on social media.

Abdulloh Rakhmatoz, who rode a school bus with the shooter, told The Financial Times he was "very quiet but when he did talk he was nice."

"He was just really shy," Rakhmatoz told the outlet.

KDKA, a Pittsburgh CBS, reported that law enforcement was searching the shooter's family home on Sunday as the hunt for a motive continued.

• Shots were fired at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, killing at least two people.
• Tech CEOs and billionaires are condemning the shooting, with some voicing their support for Trump.
• Billionaires Mark Cuban and Elon Musk, who have feuded over political views, denounced the shooting.

Prominent tech CEOs and billionaires condemned the shooting at a Trump rally on Saturday, with some voicing their support for former President Donald Trump.

At least two people, including the suspected shooter, were killed on Saturday after shots were fired at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to a statement from the Secret Service. Two other rally attendees were critically injured, the agency said.

The shooting immediately drew reactions from top lawmakers, the Biden administration, and business leaders across the political spectrum.

Here are some of their reactions:

Mark Cuban

Billionaire Mark Cuban, who has voiced support for President Joe Biden for a second term, wrote on X in the hour of the shooting that he hoped "the former president is Ok and no one else was injured."

"And let's hope they catch the idiot who did this. This is not the way," Cuban wrote. "And thank you to the Secret Service who put themselves in harms way to protect the former President."

Elon Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has feuded with Cuban over hot-button political issues, chose the moment to announce his endorsement of Trump. Musk previously said he would avoid financially backing a 2024 candidate, but Bloomberg recently reported that he donated to a pro-Trump super PAC.

"I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," Musk wrote on X.

Mark Zuckerberg

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg similarly said on Threads that he is praying for a "quick recovery for President Trump."

Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who typically prefers to maintain some semblance of neutrality and diplomacy in US politics, condemned the shooting.

"I pray for President Trump's rapid recovery. My thoughts are with him, the other victims and the Trump family. I strongly condemn this violence," he wrote on X.

Jeff Bezos

In his first post on X in early nine months, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wrote that Trump "showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight."

"So thankful for his safety and so sad for the victims and their families," Bezos wrote.

Satya Nadella

Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, called the incident on X a "horrific event" and said, "there is simply no place for any type of violence in our society."

Sundar Pichai

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google parent Alphabet, wrote on X that he wished the former president a "speedy recovery." He added that political violence is "intolerable" and that everyone should come together to oppose it.

David Solomon

David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, expressed gratitude on the company's earnings call on Monday that the former president is safe.

Solomon urged people to treat one another with respect and to show civility. "We cannot afford division and distrust to get the better of us," he said.

Sam Altman

In a brief statement on X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote, "very glad President Trump is safe!"

Andy Jassy

Andy Jassy, the CEO of Amazon, also expressed shock at the shooting, saying it was "hard to digest" and "awful."

Marc Benioff

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, who hasn't publicly endorsed a 2024 candidate but was optimistic about his company's prospects regardless of the election outcome, wrote on X that he wished a quick recovery for Trump and condemned "political violence."

"A full and speedy recovery to President Trump. May his body be healed, his mind be soothed, and his soul be comforted. May he be blessed with strength and courage, and return to health soon. There is no room in our country for political violence," he wrote.

Ken Griffin

Ken Griffin, CEO of the hedge fund manager Citadel, said in a statement that his thoughts were with former President Trump and the other victims of the attack. Griffin also condemned the violence.

"As Americans, we are fortunate to have the right to peacefully resolve our political differences by casting our votes," he said.

Marc Andreessen

Marc Andreessen, cofounder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, posted a cryptic image of an American flag on X following the incident. He has yet to publicly endorse a 2024 candidate but has been critical of the Biden Administration.

Brian Chesky

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement posted on X that he was "thankful President Trump wasn't seriously injured."

Pat Gelsinger

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger wrote on X that the shooting had made for a "very difficult night for our nation." He said he was relieved to hear that the former president was "in good spirits" and denounced violence.

Reid Hoffman

Reid Hoffman, cofounder of LinkedIn, wrote on X, "Assassination is not only categorically wrong, but is also the assassination of democracy."

He wished the former president a quick recovery. He also criticized some of Trump's rhetoric, writing, "When he warns against consequences of him losing the election, he should not predict a 'bloodbath' in a way that might incite future protesters to violence against his political opponents."

Bill Ackman

Bill Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, wrote on X hours after the shooting that he was endorsing Trump for president. Ackman said he would write a long post to explain his thinking.

David Sacks

The venture capitalist David Sacks reaffirmed his support for the former president, writing on X, "There's not a braver man in America than Donald Trump."