July 21st 2024.
The security team for former US President Donald Trump has recently expressed their dissatisfaction with the resources and personnel provided by the Secret Service in the past two years. This has caused some concern within the agency as they have acknowledged that they did not fulfill certain requests made by the team.
According to a statement from a spokesperson for the Secret Service on Saturday, they have not provided certain resources in the past but instead relied on other security measures, including assistance from local partners. The issue has come to light after a recent incident at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a sniper was able to gain access to a rooftop only 150 meters away from Trump's position.
Reports from The Washington Post and The New York Times have revealed that previous requests from Trump's security team over the past two years were denied by the Secret Service. Some close to the former president believe that these decisions, which they see as personal to Trump, were made by higher-ups within the agency. While Trump has a good relationship with his Secret Service detail, there have been tensions between them and the upper ranks of the agency according to sources familiar with the situation.
When questioned about the denial of additional security requests, a spokesperson from the Secret Service stated that the agency makes adjustments to ensure the safety of their protectees when necessary resources are not provided. This may include utilizing state or local partners or finding alternative methods to reduce the exposure of the protectee to the public.
The day after the incident, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle addressed rumors that Trump was denied additional security for the rally in Pennsylvania, stating that these claims were untrue. She also mentioned that they had actually increased their protective resources and technology in response to the heightened travel schedule of the former president.
Cheatle is now facing a barrage of questions about the security failure that allowed a gunman to have a clear view of Trump at the rally site. Some members of Congress, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have called for her resignation. Cheatle is expected to testify this week in front of several congressional committees regarding the attempted assassination and the security issues that led to it.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
