The Secret Service now admits it refused requests to strengthen Trump’s security

After shootings at a Republican rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last Saturday, Secret Service receives allegations Republican Party members had rejected former President Trump’s request to increase the number of agents at campaign events.

Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi responded to the criticism on his X account: “There is a false claim that a member of the former president’s team requested additional security resources and was denied. This is absolutely a lie

. In fact, we have added resources, technology and security capabilities as part of the increased pace of expeditionary travel.”

However, The Secret Service now admits they rejected some requests for extra securityprimarily, for sporting events and other large public gatherings attended by former presidents. Notably, Guglielmi says, additional federal resources were not specifically for the rally in Butler, where the shootings occurred.

In any case, the Secret Service had a special focus on Donald Trump, as the US intelligence services received a direct threat to the former president from Iran. As Washington correspondent David Alandete wrote for ABC: “Secret Service spokesman Guglielmi confirmed that resources and security capabilities were recently ‘added to the former president’s security team.’ Holding rallies outdoors carries a greater risk than in closed spaces with controlled access. Iran promised to take revenge For the killing of Commander Qassem Soleimani in an attack ordered by Trump in January 2020.”

Attempted murder

Thomas Crooks took an AR-15 rifle, the most common in many US mass shootings, and climbed onto a roof more than 130 meters from the stage where Donald Trump would give his speech in Butler, Pennsylvania. The 20-year-old He fired his rifle, narrowly hitting the Republican candidate on the ear.

In addition, he killed an assistant and wounded two others before a sniper killed the attacker. The Secret Service was slow to respond When several eyewitnesses had earlier warned that something suspicious was going on in the building closest to the rally.

The Secret Service has come under fire since the attempted assassination of the former president, while they claim to be overloaded, especially during election campaigns where mass bathing and public demonstrations are the order of the day.

Despite the criticism, DDonald Trump thanked the agents for their actions From the US security agency: “I would like to thank the United States Secret Service and all law enforcement agencies for their quick response to the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.”

However, the Secret Service’s response wasn’t very convincing: He hasn’t held any press conferences Or a conference in which the media can ask about it. This is not the first time the United States has suffered an assassination attempt, such as the assassination of former President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK), nor has the Secret Service made a mistake, such as when an intruder accessed the home of national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who is emerging unscathed.