Staff Reports
The Senate’s latest report on the Secret Service’s catastrophic handling of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump reads more like a slapstick comedy than a professional security operation. While the agency is supposed to personify vigilance and efficiency, their performance on July 13 showcased a level of incompetence that would make even the Keystone Cops look like seasoned pros. The startling revelations from this investigation leave many questioning whether the failures were merely an accident or a gross negligence of duty.
In the lead-up to the rally, communication from local law enforcement to the Secret Service was disappointingly one-sided. It’s perplexing to see an agency purportedly trained in high-stakes security operate in such a disjointed manner. When the day finally arrived, confusion reigned supreme. The chain of command was non-existent, and essential technical systems that should have been deployed were failing miserably. It is hard to believe that a situation this chaotic could arise without intent or understanding from leadership.
Latest from me:
Senate Report on Secret Service July 13 Failures Shows That the Keystone Cops Would've Done a Better Job https://t.co/oJOApMSf9I
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) September 25, 2024
One of the report’s most astounding points involves the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS), which was laughably underprepared for such a significant event. Despite requests for more personnel and resources leading up to the rally, the agency faced down these pleas with an unwavering no. Instead of having a robust security team in place, they sent one agent with minimal experience to stand guard. To make matters worse, when this lone agent found himself faced with a technical difficulty, his response was to call tech support, which took hours. This mishap left the scene wide open for the would-be assassin, almost inviting chaos.
The depth of the operational failures is only amplified by how disconnected the Secret Service was from local law enforcement. No clear plans were shared or even drawn up prior to the event, leading to confusion all around. While local officers were taking their jobs seriously, the Secret Service was apparently so deep in their own confusion that they couldn’t even recognize the immediate threat. During the chaos, agents supposedly trained to react to emergencies neglected to pull Trump from the stage despite several indications that danger was imminent.
By every measure, the Secret Service’s leadership showed a striking inability to make decisions or establish accountability. They ducked responsibility for the glaring lapses in security measures, leading to an environment where potential threats were poorly managed. In fact, despite being informed of a suspicious individual just minutes before the shooting, proper precautions weren’t initiated. It raises the unsettling question: if the Secret Service was truly responsible for Trump’s safety, how could they have allowed such evident breaches to occur?
This report illustrates a troubling pattern of incompetence that, when coupled with the rhetoric emanating from the left, begs one to consider whether this was inadvertent negligence or something more alarming. With figures like President Biden trivializing Trump’s existence in harmful terms, the picture grows murkier, casting shadows of doubt over the administration’s intentions. One has to wonder if an atmosphere of disdain exists within the ranks of the federal apparatus—an atmosphere that took a misguided risk with Trump’s life during a time when threats were painfully apparent.
The failures of the Secret Service on July 13 stand as a testament to the importance of refusing to take our security for granted. In this perilous moment, vigilance should be the utmost priority, especially when it comes to protecting public figures who are constantly under threat. What this report symbolizes is not merely a blunder of one day, but a glaring weakness in the establishment’s commitment to protection—one that should prompt urgent reforms.
