A Texas pastor told his congregation that some “people in this church” wished President Trump’s would-be assassin “had been more successful,” and the clip is now driving a political firestorm.
Story Snapshot
- A sermon clip shows Rev. Jim Rigby referencing church members who allegedly wished the Trump shooter had “been more successful.”
- Reports identify Rigby of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin and say the remarks came the day after the incident.
- Coverage says Rigby also told congregants that “violence is not the answer,” but reaction was still sharp.
- James Talarico condemned political violence in separate comments earlier this year.
What the Sermon Clip Shows and Why It Matters
A video clip shared online captures Rev. Jim Rigby stating, “We still have people in this church that wish that the young man had not just nicked his ear, but been more successful.” The line refers to an attempt on President Trump’s life and frames some congregants as wishing it had worked. The clip spread fast and sparked outrage across Texas politics. The recording exists, and the quoted line matches what viewers can hear in the shared video.
Multiple outlets named Rigby of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin as the speaker and tied the remarks to a sermon delivered the day after the attempt. That timeline made the words even more charged, since many Americans were still processing the news. The Dallas Express reported the identification and timing, anchoring the who and when for the public debate now unfolding in the state.
How Different Outlets Framed the Moment
Fox News reported that Rigby told congregants “violence is not the answer,” but also that his comment about “mixed feelings” drew light laughter, adding to the sense of moral drift that upset many viewers. Rigby later argued that critics were editing his words to mislead voters, a claim that shows the fight is now as much about context as the sentence itself. These points shaped how audiences judged intent and tone.
Townhall and other political sites amplified the clip with stark headlines, while local coverage focused on who said what and when. The result is a classic quote-selection battle: one line pulls maximum outrage; the fuller exchange includes an anti-violence message. Both things can be true at once, which is why people left and right drew such different conclusions from the same words and laughs heard in the room.
Where Talarico Fits — And What Is Not Proven
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico considers St. Andrew’s his church, which is why the clip splashed into his race. Yet the record does not show him present for the sermon or endorsing the remark. After a separate Trump-related shooting earlier this year, Talarico said, “Political violence is unacceptable in every form,” which sets a clear baseline against violence. The link to him is therefore political by association, not factual proof of approval.
Key gaps remain. No full church transcript or complete, unedited sermon from the church has surfaced in the public record provided here. That limits certainty about cadence, buildup, and follow-up. The clip is real, but the scope of the “people in this church” claim is unclear. It may refer to specific comments he heard, or be a rhetorical device. Without a full video and corroboration, broader claims about a church culture cannot be confirmed.
Why This Strikes a Nerve Across the Spectrum
Americans of many views fear that leaders, media, and institutions reward outrage while ignoring real problems like rising costs, safety, and trust. Hearing laughter after any line tied to harm against a sitting president deepens that fear. For conservatives, it signals scorn toward life and law. For liberals, it risks normalizing tit-for-tat cruelty that invites blowback. For both, it looks like another sign that elites play politics while civic standards fall.
Talarico Pastor: ‘People in This Church’ Wish Would-Be Trump Assassin ‘Had Been More Successful’ https://t.co/o969fwzUsM
— Patricia Dague (@patdague) September 9, 2026
Quote-driven fights spread fast online, often faster than context. Researchers have shown that which line gets quoted can tilt how audiences judge a speaker and a story. That is why this single sentence now carries weight far beyond one pulpit. The surest fix is simple and hard: release the complete sermon, encourage calm, and draw a bright line against political violence—every time, from every side—so clips cannot stand in for the whole truth.
Sources:
redstate.com, foxnews.com, youtube.com, townhall.com, washingtonstand.com, tfn.org
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