Alarming revelations have emerged regarding the security detail assigned to protect former President Donald Trump during a recent campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, The New York Post reported.
According to Senator Josh Hawley, the majority of agents guarding Trump during an assassination attempt were Homeland Security personnel with minimal protective training.
The incident in question occurred on July 13, 2024, when Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at his rally. Sen. Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, revealed that whistleblowers had informed him about the concerning state of Trump's protective detail during the event.
Instead of being surrounded by a team of experienced Secret Service agents, Trump was primarily protected by Homeland Security personnel who had reportedly only completed a brief online training course.
According to Sen. Hawley's statements on "Jesse Watters Primetime," the agents assigned to Trump's security detail had undergone a mere two-hour online webinar as preparation for their protective duties. The senator expressed his disbelief at the situation, stating:
A two-hour, online webinar. And I'm told that half the time, the sounds to the webinar didn't even work.
This revelation has sparked concern about the level of protection provided to a former president during a public event, especially given the heightened security risks associated with such gatherings.
Hawley further emphasized the gravity of the situation, pointing out that these Homeland Security agents were not typically assigned to protective details. Instead, they were reportedly pulled from other critical assignments, such as child exploitation cases and various investigations, to fill the security roles at Trump's rally.
The senator's disclosure has also brought attention to the lack of transparency from federal agencies regarding the incident. Hawley claimed that the information about the security arrangements came solely from whistleblowers, as official channels have been reluctant to provide details about the event and its aftermath.
This lack of transparency extends to the actions taken during the assassination attempt itself. Rep. Clay Higgins, a Republican from Louisiana, recently revealed that a local Butler SWAT team was responsible for the initial response that thwarted the attacker, Thomas Matthew Crooks. According to Higgins, it was the SWAT team's actions that damaged Crooks' rifle and halted the shooting before the Secret Service intervened.
The disclosures by Sen. Hawley and Rep. Higgins appear to contradict the official narrative presented by acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe Jr. during his testimony before Congress on July 31. Rowe's account reportedly did not mention the crucial role played by the local SWAT team in neutralizing the threat.
These conflicting accounts have led to calls for a more thorough investigation into the incident and the security protocols in place for high-profile political events. The revelation that Homeland Security agents with minimal training were tasked with protecting a former president has raised questions about resource allocation and the prioritization of security measures for political figures.
As investigations continue, there is growing concern about the potential vulnerabilities in the security arrangements for political rallies and other public events featuring prominent figures. The incident in Butler serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats faced by political leaders and the critical importance of robust and well-trained security details.
In conclusion, Sen. Hawley's revelations about the security arrangements at Trump's Butler rally have sparked a significant controversy. The majority of agents protecting Trump were reportedly Homeland Security personnel with minimal training. The initial response to the assassination attempt came from a local SWAT team, not the Secret Service. These disclosures have led to calls for greater transparency and improved security protocols for high-profile political events.
