Melania Trump has implied that there was a conspiracy around the assassination attempt against her husband, in a video posted hours before his debate with Kamala Harris.

In a post on X, the former first lady said there was “definitely more to this story” and asked why police failed to stop Thomas Crooks from opening fire on Trump on July 13.

“The attempt to end my husband’s life was a horrible, distressing experience,” she said.

“Now, the silence around it feels heavy. I can’t help but wonder: why didn’t law enforcement officials arrest the shooter before the speech?

“There is definitely more to this story, and we need to uncover the truth.”

Mrs Trump’s video ended with a shot of her upcoming book, Melania, which is to be released on October 8.

It came just hours before the first, and likely only, debate of the presidential election campaign between Trump and Ms Harris.

Since the attempt on Trump’s life, some of his supporters have suggested the incident was masterminded by US government agencies that do not want him to win a second term in the White House.

Mike Collins, a Republican representative from Georgia, said that “Joe Biden sent the orders” to assassinate Trump.

Some opponents of Trump have also claimed that the shooting was staged and that Trump manufactured it to improve his approval ratings. Neither theory has been substantiated.

Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the US Secret Service, resigned after admitting the agency failed to protect Trump at his rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

Crooks, the shooter, was shot dead at the scene by snipers after he opened fire. The FBI has said no clear motive has been determined, and that Trump appeared to be a “target of opportunity”.

On July 29, lawmakers in the House announced a bipartisan panel to investigate the assassination attempt.

The committee is chaired by Mike Kelly, a Republican who represents the district where the attack took place.