Trump assassination attempt: The US Secret Service was already under intense scrutiny after an assassin fired a bullet at former US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump that grazed his ear during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to prevent a would-be assassin from getting within 500 yards of the former president, armed with an AK-47 fitted with a telescopic sight on September 15 (Sunday).
The second assassination attempt on Trump has raised questions about the security capabilities provided to him and whether the Secret Service is ill-equipped to handle such attacks. While Trump praised Secret Service agents as “absolutely outstanding” and thanked them for their “incredible work,” other Republicans have asked tough questions.
The first assassination attempt on Trump forced the resignation of then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. The service beefed up Trump’s security detail following the July 13 attack, in which the gunman was shot dead by responding officers. US President Joe Biden said the agency “needs more help,” including possibly more staff. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who convened a bipartisan task force to investigate the first assassination attempt, told Fox News that Congress would also look into the latest incident, saying: “We need accountability.”
Challenges Facing the Secret Service on Golf Courses
Despite his efforts, Trump’s golf courses have proven to be a significant challenge for the US Secret Service. According to the Washington Post, authorities warned Trump shortly after he became president of the dangers of playing golf on his own courses due to their proximity to public roads. They said that if photographers could put the president in their crosshairs, so could gunmen.
But some former officials said Trump insisted his clubs were safe and that he wanted to continue playing golf. Trump advisers and the Secret Service have long expressed concern about Trump’s potential exposure while playing, not to mention that the courses are filled with trees and hills that can provide easy cover for a would-be assassin. Trump also followed a predictable routine on any given weekend.
Bill Gage, a former Secret Service agent, said the gunman probably didn’t need to do “very sophisticated surveillance.” “He just had to sit back and wait for Trump to arrive. You don’t have to do a lot of guesswork to figure out where he’s going to be, and that gives a bad guy time to prepare,” he said. Trump also likes to drive his own golf cart, which isn’t equipped with any kind of protection.
Trump’s private golf clubs are also located in heavily trafficked communities and lack reinforced perimeters, posing a security nightmare for the Secret Service and law enforcement, especially now that Trump is no longer president. Trump’s presence at the golf course means the club will not be closed to the general public, nor will nearby roads. Agents typically have to wear golf attire and ride in carts in front of and behind the former president to secure the areas.
What did the Secret Service say about the incident?
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Secret Service agents spotted the barrel of a rifle sticking out of bushes about 400 to 500 yards from Trump as they cleared gaps of potential threats before he played. Agents confronted the gunman and fired at least four rounds of ammunition around 1:30 p.m.
The gunman then dropped his rifle, left behind two backpacks and other items and fled in a black Nissan. The sheriff said a witness spotted the gunman and managed to take photos of his car and license plate before he fled. “The Secret Service did exactly what they should have done,” Bradshaw said, declining to identify the suspect or provide a possible motive.
Biden later said he had directed his team to ensure the Secret Service had the resources it needed to ensure Trump’s safety, according to a statement released by the White House. The US president also said Ronald Rowe, acting director of the Secret Service, was in Florida “assessing what happened and determining whether any further adjustments are necessary to ensure” Trump’s safety.
(with contributions from the agency)
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