The head of the U.S. Secret Service admitted to significant lapses in security during a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. A recent report revealed that poor planning and communication failures allowed a gunman to get dangerously close to the former president. In response, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill aimed at bolstering Secret Service protection for presidential candidates.
The bill, approved by a 405-0 vote, will mandate the Secret Service to apply the same security standards for all presidential candidates, including Trump, President Joe Biden, and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. This also extends to vice-presidential candidates.
Security Breakdown
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged the shortcomings during Trump’s rally, where an internal review highlighted ineffective coordination between agents and local law enforcement. A key issue was the use of different radio frequencies, which left Trump’s security team unaware of a potential threat identified by police on the ground.
Rowe explained that there were no clear directives from the Secret Service for police officers, leading to inadequate protection of key locations, such as the building from where the shooter ultimately attacked. “This was a failure of the U.S. Secret Service,” Rowe admitted, promising disciplinary action against agents responsible for Trump’s security on July 13, 2024.
The Assassination Attempt
The assassination attempt occurred just minutes into Trump’s speech. As two gunshots rang out, the former president collapsed, clutching his ear, while Secret Service agents quickly shielded him. Trump, visibly bleeding, managed to rise to his feet and defiantly gesture to the crowd, which erupted in chants of “USA!”
The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed at the scene by authorities. He fatally shot one person and injured two others, including Trump. Despite the severity of the incident, the former president’s resilience and quick recovery became a rallying moment for his supporters.