The Secret Service has admitted that certain security modifications for former President Donald Trump were not provided ahead of an assassination attempt against him. The agency acknowledged that in some cases where specialized units or resources were not provided, they made modifications to ensure extra protection for Trump. This included utilizing state or local partners or finding alternative ways to reduce public exposure of a protectee. The Trump campaign has been requesting additional Secret Service resources since he left office in 2021, according to reports.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appointed a bipartisan panel to conduct an independent review of the Trump assassination attempt. Former DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, former Homeland Security Adviser Frances Townsend, former Judge and Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip, and former Delaware homeland security official David Mitchell were named to the panel. The Secret Service had initially denied that additional security for Trump had been requested and denied but later backtracked on this statement. Trump was grazed by a bullet, and a bystander was killed in the shooting.
Concerns had been raised over the lack of additional resources and support from the Secret Service for Trump political rallies over the past two years. The Trump campaign requested additional security measures for events, including more metal detectors at a rally in the Bronx and at Barron Trump’s graduation ceremony in May. The agency initially declined to provide metal detectors for Barron Trump’s graduation but eventually added them along with other security measures. Questions have been raised about the agency’s handling of security at the rally where the shooting took place.
A growing number of Republicans have called for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation in the wake of the shooting. Senate members criticized Cheatle at the Republican National Convention, demanding her resignation or a full explanation for the security failures. House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner has described Cheatle’s failures as outrageous and incredible, holding the agency accountable for providing an opportunity for the shooting of Donald Trump. Trump’s son, Eric Trump, confirmed that the former president did not receive stitches after the shooting and is recovering well.
Former White House physician Rep. Ronny Jackson treated Trump after the shooting and provided details of the wound, stating that the bullet narrowly missed Trump’s head and struck the top of his right ear. Trump made his first public appearances since the shooting at the Republican National Convention and held another rally where he referred to the incident, saying he “took a bullet for democracy.” The Secret Service has been criticized for its handling of the security at the rally where the shooting took place, with concerns raised about the timeline and response to the suspicious person on the grounds before the incident occurred.
