Despite Secret Service officials repeatedly denying requests for additional resources, former President Donald Trump’s security detail was expected to maintain a “zero fail mission” in protecting him during his presidential campaign and post-presidency events. This became evident when Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, on July 13th. The Washington Post reported that for at least two years prior to the deadly incident, Trump’s requests for increased protection were continuously denied.
In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security, publicly dismissed the notion that Trump’s Secret Service detail was lacking in resources. He called any suggestion that Trump’s detail was denied additional resources “an irresponsible statement that is unequivocally false.” However, The Post’s report contradicts Mayorkas’ statement and exposes the truth that the Secret Service was unable to provide the level of protection that Trump needed due to a lack of resources.
According to The Washington Post, Secret Service agents, who were assigned to protect the former president, were overworked and stretched thin due to competing demands from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The operational strain on the Secret Service was also caused by the Republican National Convention, which required agents to carry out advance work and security measures. As a result, there were not enough agents to provide adequate protection for Trump at his campaign events, including the rally in Pennsylvania.
Once again Mayorkas has MISLED the public.
On CNN he called my statement that President Trump’s detail was DENIED repeated requests for stronger secret service protection “an irresponsible statement that is unequivocally false”.
Now WaPo is citing officials that I was CORRECT,… https://t.co/jPWYzLntWb
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) July 20, 2024
The blame for this alarming shortage of resources falls on the top officials at the Secret Service. Retired Secret Service agent Bill Gage stated, “A director has to finally come forward to say we are way understaffed and we cannot possibly continue with this zero fail mission without a significantly bigger budget.” This statement supports the fact that the Secret Service was severely understaffed and underfunded, jeopardizing the safety of Trump and his supporters.
In light of this information, Republican Representative Jim Jordan has called for FBI Director Christopher Wray to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on the Secret Service’s lack of resources for protecting Trump. He also shared that whistleblowers have come forward to inform the committee about the insufficient resources for Trump’s security detail during his post-presidency events. Wray is expected to provide more insight into the matter during the upcoming hearing.
The importance of providing adequate protection for presidential candidates and former presidents cannot be stressed enough. This was evident when independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was granted Secret Service protection following the July 13th assassination attempt on Trump. If the Secret Service had prioritized Trump’s security needs and heeded his requests for additional resources, this near-tragic incident could have been prevented.
It is evident that the Secret Service officials in charge of protecting Trump failed to provide the necessary resources to ensure his safety. Their denial of repeated requests for additional resources not only put Trump’s life at risk but also endangered the lives of his supporters.
Mayorkas’ statement dismissing the reports as false further highlights the administration’s attempt to deflect from the truth. It is time for the Secret Service to be held accountable and for the safety of presidential candidates and former presidents to be taken more seriously. No individual, regardless of their political affiliation, should have to fear for their life while exercising their constitutional right to campaign and hold events in public.