A recent Secret Service review reveals critical missteps in assessing threat levels during a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
At a Glance
- Secret Service miscalculated risks at Trump’s July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
- Internal inquiry identified failures in planning, communication, and command processes
- Line-of-sight risks were inadequately addressed, leading to security vulnerabilities
- The incident has prompted calls for a reevaluation of threat assessment procedures
Secret Service Failures Exposed
The Secret Service’s miscalculation of threat levels at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has raised serious concerns about the agency’s ability to protect high-profile individuals. An internal review following the failed assassination attempt revealed a series of critical errors in planning, communication, and execution of security protocols.
The most glaring oversight was the failure to properly assess and mitigate line-of-sight risks to the former president. According to the Secret Service report, “Multiple Secret Service personnel mistakenly assessed these line-of-sight risks to the former president as acceptable, leading to inadequate elimination.” This error in judgment left Trump exposed to potential threats from vantage points that should have been secured.
Multiple Secret Service agents involved in planning security for Donald Trump's July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, failed to properly mitigate line-of-sight risks to the stage that led to the assassination attempt on the former president… https://t.co/3tMeXKVvzd
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 1, 2024
Planning and Communication Breakdowns
The report highlighted significant failures in the planning phase of the event security. “Site advance personnel failed to recognize gaps in the site’s construction and failed to notify their chain of command that potential line-of-sight concerns were not fully mitigated,” the Secret Service report stated. This lack of attention to detail and failure to communicate critical information up the chain of command created a dangerous security lapse.
Former agent Paul Eckloff reminded that “There is no such thing as 100% security.”
Furthermore, the review uncovered a lack of coordination between different agencies involved in securing the event. The report noted, “Two state and local agencies supporting the Butler rally with prior experience working with the Secret Service observed that agency planning for the Butler rally lacked detail, cohesion and clear understanding of who was in charge, all of which contributed to the overall lack of coordination.” This confusion in command structure and responsibilities further compromised the security operation.
Missed Warning Signs
Perhaps most alarmingly, the Secret Service failed to act on clear warning signs. A suspicious individual with a rangefinder was spotted near the AGR International complex, from where the shooter later fired at Trump. Despite this red flag, the Secret Service did not dispatch personnel to investigate or secure the area. This oversight allowed the would-be assassin to remain undetected until the moment of attack.
The incident has prompted a reevaluation of the Secret Service’s procedures and criteria for threat assessment. The agency has acknowledged the need for a “paradigm shift” in its approach to security, which will likely require additional funding and resources. As investigations by the House Oversight Committee and the Department of Homeland Security continue, it is clear that significant changes must be made to prevent such lapses in the future and ensure the safety of those under Secret Service protection.
