Secret Service protection for former President Donald Trump is dangerously inadequate, leaving him vulnerable to assassination attempts.
At a Glance
- Two recent assassination attempts on Trump highlight severe security gaps
- Congressman Eli Crane criticizes Secret Service for basing protection on titles, not threat levels
- Trump’s team repeatedly requested increased protection, only granted after a shooting incident
- Secret Service faces staffing shortfalls and chronic understaffing for high-profile roles
- Bipartisan task force investigating security lapses and demanding answers
Shocking Security Failures Endanger Trump
In a series of alarming events, former President Donald Trump has faced two assassination attempts within three months, exposing critical flaws in his Secret Service protection. The most recent incident at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, saw an armed suspect with an AK-style rifle camping out for nearly 12 hours before Trump’s arrival. This security breach has sparked outrage among lawmakers and raised serious questions about the adequacy of protection for the former president.
Congressman Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) has been vocal in his criticism of the Secret Service’s approach to protection. He argues that the agency seems to base its security measures on an individual’s title rather than the actual threat level they face. This policy, if true, is not only misguided but potentially deadly when it comes to protecting Trump, who arguably faces more threats than any other public figure in the country.
Repeated Requests for Increased Protection Ignored
Perhaps most disturbing is the revelation that Trump’s team had repeatedly requested additional Secret Service protection from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, only to be refused multiple times.
It took a shooting incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, for these requests to finally be granted. This delay in providing adequate security is not only baffling but potentially criminal in its negligence.
“I think one of the problems with the security within the Secret Service is that they’re providing security based on people’s titles and not based on the threats that the individuals under their umbrella of protection have towards them,” Crane said on the John Solomon Reports podcast. “It’s clear as day to anybody that nobody has more threats to them than Donald Trump,” Crane said. “So, [Secret Service] Director Rowe, you cannot keep hiding behind the fact that he’s not the acting president. He has more threats against him, clearly, than anybody in the country right now.”
The Secret Service’s apparent disregard for the unique threat level faced by Trump is deeply concerning. It raises questions about whether political motivations are influencing security decisions, putting the former president’s life at risk.
Chronic Understaffing and Budget Issues
Despite nearly doubling its budget from $1.8 billion in 2014 to over $3 billion, the Secret Service faces a staffing shortfall of nearly 10% compared to a decade ago. This chronic understaffing, particularly for high-profile roles, has left the agency struggling to meet its protection obligations. The refusal to allocate additional personnel for Trump’s security, given the clear and present danger he faces, is inexcusable.
“President Trump needs the most coverage of anyone. He’s the most attacked. He’s the most threatened, even probably more than when he was in the Oval Office,” – House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said in a Monday interview with Fox News.
The Secret Service’s failure to adapt its protection strategies to the unique threats faced by Trump is a dereliction of duty. It’s clear that the agency’s current approach, based on outdated notions of who requires the highest level of protection, is putting Trump’s life at risk.
Call for Immediate Action
In light of these security failures, it’s imperative that immediate action be taken to bolster Trump’s protection. Congressman Crane’s suggestion that Trump “beef up his private security detail” to have “watchers that are loyal to him watching the watchers” is a sad but necessary recommendation given the current circumstances.
The fact that a former president of the United States needs to consider private security due to inadequate government protection is a damning indictment of the current administration’s priorities.
The American people deserve answers and accountability for these security lapses. The bipartisan congressional task force investigating the incidents must leave no stone unturned in their quest for the truth. Furthermore, the Secret Service must immediately reassess its protection criteria, prioritizing actual threat levels over mere titles.
As we approach the 2024 election, ensuring the safety of all candidates, especially high-profile figures like Trump, should be a top priority. The recent assassination attempts are not just attacks on an individual, but on the very fabric of our democratic process. It’s time for the Secret Service and the Biden administration to put politics aside and provide Trump with the level of protection his unique situation demands. Anything less is an unacceptable gamble with the life of a former president and current presidential candidate.
