Trump has already survived two assassination attempts. There might be a third soon.
Because a Secret Service agent has warned Trump about an imminent threat.
Secret Service Challenges Highlighted by Trump Rally Venue Change
The recent decision to relocate a Donald Trump rally from an outdoor venue to a smaller indoor space in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, demonstrates significant challenges facing the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), according to former agents. The change came after the agency reported insufficient resources to ensure the former president’s safety, prompting concerns about the broader implications for national security.
The rally, initially planned for thousands of attendees, was moved following the USSS’s assessment of its capabilities. Former agents attribute these limitations to ongoing issues such as high retirement rates, recruitment difficulties, and internal nepotism, all of which must be addressed to enhance the agency’s effectiveness in protecting its charges.
“This is going to be a very difficult season until we get to election day,” said Tim Miller, a former USSS agent. “The Secret Service, unfortunately, is playing catch-up due to their lack of ability to protect him properly in the past.”
NBC News confirming my whistleblower report of earlier this week: Secret Service told Trump NO on Wisconsin outdoor rally pic.twitter.com/uMfQ7pPy6l
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) September 26, 2024
Congress recently allocated $231 million to the USSS in response to scrutiny over its performance, particularly following two assassination attempts on Trump. However, former agents argue that the core problem lies not in funding, but in a lack of manpower. Michael Matranga, another former agent, emphasized that while the new budget may allow for the hiring of 400 new agents, the training process can take nearly a year, delaying their ability to contribute meaningfully to security operations.
One of the recent incidents underscoring these concerns involved an armed man, Ryan Wesley Routh, who attempted to target Trump at the Trump International golf course. Quick action from a vigilant USSS agent prevented a potential tragedy, but it highlighted the necessity for a more robust protective strategy, especially in an environment where political violence is on the rise.
Former agents also pointed to a troubling culture of nepotism within the agency, which complicates recruitment and retention. Richard Staropoli noted that many agents are hired based on personal connections rather than merit, potentially leading to inefficiencies within the ranks. “In the Secret Service, the level of nepotism that’s there, and the hiring of legacy applicants, where somebody’s mom or dad or uncle was on that job, is rampant,” he explained.
As the political landscape heats up ahead of the election, several former agents believe the decision to move the rally indoors was the right one, given the agency’s resource limitations. Trump, however, has framed the situation as “election interference,” claiming that Democrats are obstructing his campaign by not providing adequate security resources.
The USSS has been stretched thin due to concurrent events, such as the United Nations General Assembly, which has heightened the demand for protection. Despite this, the agency maintains that protecting Trump is its top priority. “Former President Donald Trump is receiving heightened levels of U.S. Secret Service protection,” stated USSS spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, although he refrained from discussing specific operational details.
While the decision to relocate the rally reflects immediate safety concerns, former agents suggest that the agency could take further steps to mitigate its long-standing issues. For instance, former agent Anthony Cangelosi proposed that the USSS could request assistance from other federal law enforcement agencies, which may be more willing to provide personnel given the election’s proximity.
Nonetheless, reliance on local law enforcement poses its own risks, as evidenced by prior communication failures that allowed an attacker to fire at Trump during a previous incident. “Sometimes you’ve got to think out of the box with this stuff, especially in drastic times like we have,” noted Tim Spiess, another former agent, advocating for a more proactive approach.
As the election approaches, the USSS faces pressing challenges that require both immediate action and long-term reform to ensure the safety of high-profile figures like Trump amidst a rising tide of political unrest.
The calls for real changes from the American public have started to shake up the Secret Service to some degree, though there’s still clearly work to be done. The former Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle was forced to resign after her disgraceful appearances before Congress in which she seemed to take virtually no responsibility for the failures that led to the attempt on Donald Trump’s life in July.
A little reminder of Kim Cheatle’s background.
And how she defended USSS purge of texts related to J6 with an indignant response about “integrity.” pic.twitter.com/QyJ3gBoUpI
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) July 16, 2024
The Conservative Column will be closely following Secret Service news to bring our readers any critical updates.
