Trump’s Secret Service detail is just the fraction of the size of sitting presidents — with campaign continually asking for more protection: sources
Donald Trump travels with a Secret Service detail that is just a fraction of the size of sitting presidents — despite being a former President and presumptive GOP nominee, sources told The Post.
Trump was immediately swarmed by Secret Service and local police after he was grazed in the ear by sniper fire in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. on Friday evening.
But Trump’s Secret Service protection — since he is a candidate and not a sitting president — is not nearly that of a sitting president like Joe Biden, sources said.
Trump, being a former president himself, should have received additional security from the agency, sources said.
His campaign has asked for additional protection, but their request has fallen on deaf ears, according to sources.
Trump does not receive counter assault and counter sniper defenses as well as aviation coverage, leaving him vulnerable, sources said.
At Friday’s event in Pennsylvania, local law enforcement were on scene to assist, but their capabilities are limited compared to the Secret Service — which falls under the Department of Homeland Security.
The gunman was posted on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 130 yards away from the stage. The unidentified shooter was quickly killed by Secret Service snipers, but not before he nicked the president, killed a rally-goer and seriously injured another.
The open-air event at the Butler Farm Show grounds gave the shooter a virtually unobstructed line of sight to the former president from his perch.
The counter-sniper team, which sources told The Post killed the shooter, returned fire from the roof of another building close to where Trump was located — behind the audience stands.
If a sitting president was speaking at the event Friday, the Secret Service would have more agents on the scene monitoring low points and high points — like the one where the gunman had positioned himself, sources said.
When Trump hosted a campaign rally in The Bronx in May, Secret Service did not provide the former president with a counter assault team or a counter sniper team, sources said. Instead, the New York Police Department provided him with an aviation counter sniper and counter assault complement.
Lawmakers have demanded a probe into how Secret Service could allow such a breach of security.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) announced Friday night that his panel will open an investigation into the shooting.
Comer revealed that he has already reached out Secret Service anc called for hearing on what appeared to be an assassination attempt against the former president and presumptive Republican presidential .e.
“I have already contacted the Secret Service for a briefing and am also calling on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear for a hearing. The Oversight Committee will send a formal invitation soon,” Comer said in a statement.
“My prayers are with President Trump and the victims of the assassination attempt at today’s rally in Pennsylvania. I thank the brave Secret Service members who put their lives at risk to protect President Trump and for the American patriots in the audience who helped others who were hurt,” he added.
Trump was taken to a local hospital for treatment and confirmed he is safe and well.
