Over the past two years, former President Donald Trump’s security detail has raised concerns about insufficient resources and personnel provided by the Secret Service. The agency admitted on Saturday that it had denied some requests.
A Secret Service spokesperson stated that while certain resources were not provided, the agency had implemented other security measures, including assistance from local partners.
This news emerges amid widespread concerns about how a sniper managed to gain rooftop access approximately 150 meters from Trump’s position at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last week.
The Washington Post and The New York Times reported earlier on Saturday that the Secret Service had denied requests from Trump’s security team over the past two years.
An aerial view shows law enforcement at the home of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, identified by the FBI as the suspect in the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump, in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, on July 14, 2024.
Some close to the former president believe that the decisions, perceived as personal to Trump, came from the upper ranks of the agency. Although Trump has strong relationships with members of his Secret Service detail, the relationship between those agents and the agency’s leadership has been tense for some time, according to sources familiar with the situation.
In response to questions from CNN regarding the denial of additional security requests, a spokesperson said the agency makes “modifications” when certain resources are not provided.
“In some instances where specific Secret Service specialized units or resources were not provided, the agency made modifications to ensure the security of the protectee,” Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, wrote in a statement. “This may include utilizing state or local partners to provide specialized functions or otherwise identifying alternatives to reduce public exposure of a protectee.”
Guglielmi stated the day after the shooting that claims Trump was denied additional security requests specifically for the Pennsylvania rally were untrue.
“This is absolutely false. In fact, we added protective resources, technology, and capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo,” Guglielmi wrote on X.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is facing numerous questions about how a gunman was able to obtain a clear line of sight to Trump at the rally site. There have been calls for her resignation from members of Congress, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. Cheatle is expected to address these issues during her testimony this week before several congressional committees investigating the security failures that led to the assassination attempt.
