Secret Service Failures at Trump Rally
This was a catastrophic security breakdown. Simple as that.
Multiple Secret Service employees are now on administrative leave after a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally last month. The action was confirmed by outlets including CNN and Fox News.
Agents from Trump’s detail and the Pittsburgh field office were told to work from home while investigators dig into what went wrong. People want answers. They deserve them.
Acting Secret Service Chief Ron Rowe called it an “indefensible failure,” when testifying before Congress. Those words land hard. They should.
The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, climbed onto a rooftop and fired eight shots at the rally. One bullet hit Trump’s right ear. Former fire chief Corey Comperatore was killed. Two others—Marine veteran David Dutch and retiree James Copenhaver—were wounded.
Text messages released by Senator Chuck Grassley show law enforcement had identified Crooks more than 90 minutes before the shooting. But the Secret Service wasn’t told he had a weapon until it was too late, according to reports. That’s a breakdown that can’t be shrugged off.
Local police warned about securing the rooftop where Crooks positioned himself. They say their concerns were ignored. One local officer even confronted the gunman moments before the shots, then backed down when threatened at gunpoint.
Whistleblowers have contacted Senator Josh Hawley with claims that agents were instructed not to request extra security. They say requests would be denied. If that’s true, it points to a culture problem and a failed chain of command.
The FBI is digging into the shooter’s movements. Crooks allegedly visited the site three times before the rally. He flew a drone around the perimeter for about 11 minutes hours before the attack. Secret Service drones reportedly couldn’t operate well because of poor cell service. Offers from local law enforcement to help with aerial surveillance were turned down.
Investigators say Crooks frequented gun ranges in the weeks before the attack. Explosives were later found in his car. Motive remains unclear, though records show a fixation on public figures and past assassinations.
Agency officials say they’re reviewing what happened. “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating its personnel decisions related to this tragic event,” stated Anthony Guglielmi, communications chief for the agency in remarks made earlier this month.National Review. “Our mission assurance review is underway as we assess all factors contributing to this operational failure.”
Bottom line: this was preventable. Heads need to be held accountable. Policies need to change. And we need better coordination between federal and local teams before another tragedy hits.
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