• The Trump rally shooter featured briefly in a BlackRock ad from 2022, the company said.
• Thomas Matthew Crooks "appeared in the background" during the ad and was not paid, per BlackRock.
• Crooks can be seen in a 30-second ad focusing on an AP Economics teacher in Bethel Park High School.

BlackRock, the world's largest money manager, said on Sunday that it had removed one of its ads from 2022 that featured Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old identified by authorities as the man who shot and injured former President Donald Trump.

The company told Bloomberg and Reuters that Crooks was a student who was briefly seen in the ad and was not paid for his appearance.

"In 2022, we ran an ad featuring a teacher from Bethel Park High School, in which several unpaid students briefly appeared in the background, including Thomas Matthew Crooks," the company said in a statement to Reuters.

Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022 and was reported that year to have received a $500 award from the National Math and Science Initiative.

BlackRock gave neither outlet further information about the footage but told Bloomberg it would remove the ad from circulation and provide the clip to authorities.

The company also called the assassination attempt on Trump "abhorrent."

Crooks appears briefly in a 30-second TV BlackRock ad featuring an AP and Honors Economics teacher at Bethel Park High School. In the clip, Crooks is seen in a classroom and appears to be speaking to the teacher.

BlackRock's press teams did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Authorities said agents shot Crooks dead after he opened fire on Trump at a Saturday rally in Pennslyvania. Trump said later that his ear was struck by at least one bullet, causing it to bleed.

The FBI has designated the incident as an assassination attempt.

BlackRock, which oversees about $9.1 trillion in assets, is expected to release its Q2 earnings on July 15.

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made a call for unity following the failed assassination of Donald Trump.
• The tech billionaire said the nation needs to "turn down the rhetoric and find slightly more unity."
• "I am happy to see most Democrats having the grace to step up and lead on this point," Altman said.

The failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has left OpenAI CEO Sam Altman with a lot to think about.

"Thinking a lot about what a difference an inch can make to history," Altman wrote in an X post on Sunday.

"Hoping this can be a moment where we stare into the abyss and be grateful that there but for the grace of god went we, and collectively decide to turn down the rhetoric and find slightly more unity," he continued.

Altman also commended the Democratic Party's response toward the shooting: "I am happy to see most Democrats having the grace to step up and lead on this point, and resisting the urge to both-sides it."

Representatives for Altman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

On Saturday, a gunman tried to assassinate Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The Secret Service said that one rallygoer died in the shooting while two others were left critically injured. The shooting suspect, a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead.

Trump later said in a Truth Social post on the same day that he'd been wounded by "a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear."

After the shooting, Altman, like other business leaders, posted that they were relieved Trump got out safe.

According to Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, Trump's former White House doctor, Trump said he survived the shooting because he happened to tilt his head to look at a chart on immigration statistics.

"He said, 'If I hadn't pointed at that chart and turned my head to look at it, that bullet would have hit me right in the head,'" Jackson, who'd previously served as Trump's White House physician, told The New York Times in an interview on Sunday.

Like Altman, both Trump and President Joe Biden made similar calls for unity.

"In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday.

"Let's remember, here in America, while unity is the most elusive of goals right now, nothing is more important for us now than standing together. We can do this," Biden said in an Oval Office address on Sunday.

• "House of the Dragon" teased a major character in its season two premiere.
• Hugh is a blacksmith, and one of the common folk in King's Landing. 
• But in "Fire and Blood" he plays a major role — read ahead if you want to be spoiled! 

Warning: Spoilers ahead through season two, episode five of "House of the Dragon" and the book "Fire and Blood."

"House of the Dragon" is keeping us on our toes in season two — and the premiere briefly introduced an important figure from George R.R. Martin's book "Fire and Blood." Now, a few episodes in, we're starting to learn a bit more about him.

In the season two premiere, Aegon II Targaryen hears petitions from the common folk. One of the petitioners is more important than the others: Hugh the blacksmith (Kieran Bew), who asks Aegon for an advance on the smiths' payment for weapons.

If you couldn't tell by the lingering, close-up shot of Hugh's face during his introduction, here's your PSA: You should remember his face. Assuming he's the same Hugh from "Fire and Blood," the book on which "House of the Dragon" is based, we'll see much more of him down the line.

Hugh is shown in 'House of the Dragon' as a father

In season two, episode two, Hugh and his wife converse at their home about the price of food as they tend to their sick daughter. Hugh assures his wife that Aegon has promised him an advance — but she's skeptical.

By episode five, the money hasn't come through. Aegon is badly injured after his clash with Rhaenys, Aemond, and their dragons Meleys and Vhagar, and his brother Aemond is ruling in his stead. With King's Landing falling into unrest, Hugh's wife urges him to leave for Tumbleton, where her brother resides. Hugh is reluctant, but the couple attempts to leave the city with their daughter.

Unfortunately, they fail, stalled by Aemond's order to close the city gates. But at the end of episode five, Rhaenyra's son Jacaerys has an idea to seek out others with Targaryen blood who could mount a dragon — and it's one that could potentially bring Hugh into the fold.

In 'Fire and Blood,' Hugh is a dragonrider

During the Dance of the Dragons, as recounted in "Fire and Blood," Jacaerys decides to recruit potential dragonriders from the breadth of Targaryen bastards. He puts out a call for recruits, promising rewards like knighthood, lands, and glory to those who are able to successfully mount a dragon.

Not everyone was able to do so. According to "Fire and Blood," Grand Maester Munkun (one historical source) recounted that 16 men died during the trials, while tens of them were injured. Hugh, a "blacksmith's bastard" with incredible physical strength, mounted the dragon Vermithor. Others also succeeded, mounting the dragons Silverwing, Seasmoke, and Sheepstealer.

Vermithor — we know him, right?

That you do. "House of the Dragons" viewers encountered Vermithor in season one. The previous mount of King Jaehaerys, Viserys' predecessor, and was riderless after his death.

Daemon Targaryen very briefly encounters Vermithor in the season one finale when he seeks him out underneath Dragonstone. Singing a song in High Valyrian, Daemon doesn't seem to get very far with Vermithor — but he doesn't get burnt to a crisp, which is still a net win.

Vermithor isn't the biggest dragon that we've seen in "House of the Dragon" — that honor goes to Aemond's big, beautiful girl Vhagar — but he's still pretty big.

Now, if you want potential major spoilers for the show…

What happens to Hugh in the books?

The fictional history of Westeros recounts how Hugh fought in the war as a dragonrider. In one battle, Rhaenyra's forces clashed with a naval fleet from the Triarchy, with whom Otto Hightower had engineered an alliance. During the battle, Hugh and Vermithor fought alongside the dragons Silverwing, Sheepstealer, Seasmoke, their riders, Jacaerys, and his dragon Vermax.

However, Hugh and Ulf White, Silverwing's rider, defected later in the war during the battle of Tumbleton, though their motivations were disputed in the historical record. Their betrayal caused the city to fall into the hands of Ormund Hightower's forces, accompanied by Prince Daeron Targaryen, as well as Hugh and Ulf themselves.

Hugh eventually demanded to sit on the Iron Throne himself, leading the lords under Daeron's command to conspire to kill him. However, Addam Velaryon, bonded to Laenor Velaryon's former dragon Seasmoke, attacked the town. During the subsequent second battle of Tumbleton, Hugh was killed.

"House of the Dragon" season two airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and is streaming on Max.

• Aegon suffers a pretty bad fall in season two, episode four of "House of the Dragon."
• We got an update on his condition in the latest episode, and it's not pretty.
• Here's where Aegon stands in the show and what happens to him in "Fire in Blood" — spoilers ahead, obviously.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for season two, episode five of "House of the Dragon" and the book "Fire and Blood."

"House of the Dragon" finally stopped pulling its punches, and it's time for all-out war.

That's right: Dragons are finally on the table in the war between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother, Aegon II, over the Iron Throne. Season two, episode four depicted the Battle of Rook's Rest, an event from its source material, "Fire and Blood," that exacts a heavy toll.

Instead of predictably heading to seize Harrenhal from Prince Daemon, Ser Criston Cole leads his forces instead to Rook's Rest. It's seemingly a ploy to lure one of Rhaenyra's dragons out, and it works: Rhaenyra sends Princess Rhaenys and her dragon, Meleys, the "Red Queen."

Unfortunately for Criston Cole and Aemond, his partner in crime, Aegon chooses that moment to take charge, flying into the battle on his dragon Sunfyre. The episode leaves Aegon's fate ambiguous — but episode five gave us an update on his condition. Past that, we can look to "Fire and Blood" for clues. If you care about book spoilers (and, in turn, potential show spoilers), turn back.

Aegon chooses the wrong moment to play the hero

All in all, Criston and Aemond had a pretty good plan at Rook's Rest: lure one of Rhaenyra's dragons out, and destroy them with Vhagar, Aemond's gigantic mount.

But Aegon is far more spurned, and far more foolish, than either of them planned. And when he arrives on the battlefield with Sunfyre, it's immediately clear that Rhaenys and Meleys have him outmatched. Meleys grievously wounds Sunfyre before Vhagar even enters the battlefield.

But Aemond isn't there to save his brother. In fact, this may even be an opportunity to take him out along with one of Rhaenyra's most powerful allies. While Meleys has Sunfyre pinned in the air, Aemond orders Vhagar to set fire to them all, and Sunfyre and Aegon plummet into the forest.

After the battle's dismal conclusion, Ser Criston seeks Aegon out. Aemond has beat him to the crash site, and what they find isn't pretty: Aegon lies limp on the ground, surrounded by a smoking, groaning Sunfyre.

But in episode three, Aegon dons a set of Valyrian steel armor that he says belonged to Aegon the Conqueror. It's this armor he appears to wear to the battle.

We know from "Fire and Blood" that "common fire" cannot melt Valyrian steel. In the book, Vhagar lights Aegon the Conqueror's funeral pyre, which incinerates his body but leaves his Valyrian steel blade, Blackfyre, unharmed. But it wasn't enough to protect Aegon.

Aegon is alive, but completely out of commission

In episode five, Criston parades Meleys' head through King's Landing, much to the horror of its denizens. Unbeknownst to them, Aegon's unconscious body follows behind, hidden inside a box.

The maesters tend to Aegon in his chambers, but he does not awake. Much of his body is covered by gruesome burns, and in some cases, the Maesters must peel his armor from where it has fused to his skin. At that moment, it's unclear if he will survive.

Grand Maester Orwyle informs the small council later in the episode that despite his Valyrian steel armor, Aegon's burns were severe and he has numerous broken bones. Past that, he still may have internal injuries.

"I must admit I am not sure he will ever wake," Orwyle says. "I have plied my crafts to their fullest extent. Our King's fate lies with the gods now."

With Aegon unable to rule, the council names Aemond as regent to rule in his stead. Later in the episode, Alicent sits at Aegon's bedside as he rests, his left leg elevated and his breaths coming in wheezes.

Aegon and Sunfyre survive in the book — but they're pretty beat up

In "Fire and Blood," Meleys, Vhagar, and Sunfyre all clash during the Battle of Rook's Rest. The dragon fight ends when Vhagar falls onto Meleys and Sunfyre from above, killing Meleys and Rhaenys. Sunfyre and Aegon, however, survive.

They're not in great shape, though. One of Sunfyre's wings is half-ripped off his body, grounding him near the castle. According to the book, he remains there, consuming the corpses from the battle, and later livestock brought by Ser Criston.

Like in the show, Aegon sustains severe injuries: a broken hip and broken ribs. His burns are also severe, and his armor melts into the skin of his left arm.

George R. R. Martin writes in "Fire and Blood" that Aegon's burns "brought him such pain that some say he prayed for death." His injuries force him into a yearlong bed rest, during which the maesters attend to him and he sleeps through the pain. Obviously, that means he's unfit to rule, and Aemond assumes his duties as Prince Regent.

Aegon and Sunfyre do eventually die, though

Later in the war, a small force loyal to Rhaenyra takes back Rook's Rest and attempts to kill Sunfyre. They don't succeed, but shortly after, Sunfyre is nowhere to be found.

When Rhaenyra takes King's Landing, Aegon is gone, as are his remaining children, Jaehaera and Maelor. According to one historical record referenced in "Fire and Blood," Larys Strong smuggled them out of the city, setting Aegon aboard a fishing boat bound for Dragonstone.

Aegon hides there until Sunfyre makes his way to the island after disappearing for half a year, his wing healed enough to barely allow him to fly. The two begin to fly together again, and eventually, a force loyal to Aegon takes over the island. Aegon and Sunfyre are forced to fight Baela, Daemon and Laena's daughter, and her dragon, Moondancer. The clash leaves Moondancer dead, Sunfyre unable to fly again, Aegon with two broken legs after jumping out of the saddle, and Baela taken prisoner.

But it also leaves Aegon in possession of Dragonstone. When Rhaenyra arrives, he promptly feeds her to his dragon, Sunfyre. Shortly after, Sunfyre dies.

Aegon returns to King's Landing after his mother, Alicent, strikes an accord with Lord Corlys Velaryon, lifting the Velaryon blockade that prevented his return. There, he sits not on the Iron Throne but on a seat at its steps as a result of his broken legs.

The King then seeks revenge on those who acted against him during the war, forcing lords in the surrounding crownlands to submit to him. But while Aegon's council frets over how to quell the coming rebellion from across Westeros, Aegon is preoccupied with matters of succession: He wishes to marry Lady Cassandra Baratheon and produce new heirs.

(In the book, Aegon's sister-wife, Helaena, dies by suicide after the death of their son Maelor.) Similarly, he wants to prevent the betrothal of his daughter Jaehaera to Rhaenyra's son Aegon the Younger so as to finish off Rhaenyra's bloodline.

Eventually, with armies encroaching on King's Landing, Aegon is poisoned while being carried in his litter to the sept via a cup of laced wine.

"House of the Dragon" season two airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and is streaming on Max.

• China's economy grew 4.7% in Q2, missing the 5.1% growth forecast by analysts.
• June data showed exports were strong, but domestic consumption was weak with retail sales growth of just 2%.
• China's disposable income grew in the second quarter of this year, but consumers are reluctant to spend.

China's belt-tightening consumers are dragging on the country's economy even as external demand supports exports, official data released on Monday shows.

China's economy grew 4.7% in the second quarter of this year from a year ago, according to the National Bureau of Statistics — missing the 5.1% growth analysts polled by Reuters had expected. The growth was also slower than the 5.3% growth China posted in the first quarter of 2024.

Growth was dragged by weak consumption, with retail sales expanding just 2% in June from a year ago. In comparison, June exports hit a record $99 billion, signaling strong demand elsewhere in the world.

The fresh data shows China's economy continues to be bogged down by its real-estate crisis, stock-market volatility, geopolitical headwinds, and demographic challenges.

People are just not spending enough

Even though disposable income grew in the second quarter of this year, consumers in China are reluctant to spend.

Weak consumer demand is bad for China's economy, as it can contribute to a vicious cycle of deflationary pressure on the back of slowing wage growth and spending.

Still, Beijing framed China's first-half growth — which came in at 5.0% — as "generally stable with steady progress."

However, it also acknowledged challenges in the consumption space.

"We should be aware that the external environment is intertwined and complex, the domestic effective demand remains insufficient and the foundation for sound economic recovery and growth still needs to be strengthened," China's National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday.

Economic outlook for the second half of the year

China's economic outlook isn't that rosy for the second half of this year either.

Nomura economists said in a report last week that China's first-quarter growth was helped by measures including property stimulus.

However, they added that headwinds remain in the second half of the year, including the "tapering of post-COVID pent-up consumer demand."

Slow domestic demand in China could pose an even bigger problem later this year and ahead amid geopolitical uncertainties.

"Growth dependence on external demand with the current resilience in manufacturing may also breed concerns of any escalating trade tensions, at a time where polls have been leaning towards a likely Donald Trump's presidency for now," Yeap Jun Rong, a market analyst at trading platform IG, wrote on Monday, following China's data release.

China is navigating a difficult economic transition from one focused on property and lower-end manufacturing to the hot new sectors of electric vehicles, batteries, and solar cells — but the sectors' growth may cool in the second half of this year after the investment frenzy slows, wrote the Nomura economists.

Beijing has a growth target of around 5% for the world's second-largest economy — a number analysts have said is ambitious.