Staff Reports
Two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump in the span of just two months, and the common thread? Both suspects were armed with an alarming amount of insider knowledge that makes it seem like they had VIP access to Trump’s security details. The latest incident, which unfolded while Trump was enjoying a round of golf in West Palm Beach, raises several serious questions that are begging to be answered. How could an assassin anticipate where Trump would be when the plans were, quite literally, last-minute?
The Secret Service, in a twist of irony, has dubbed this golfing excursion as “off-the-record” or OTR. Such movements are supposed to be low-profile affairs, cloaked in secrecy, with only a select few in the loop about the whereabouts of the 45th president. Yet somehow, this knowledge made its way to Ryan Wesley Routh, the would-be gunman, who seemingly settled in for a long wait at the golf course’s fifth hole. It’s troubling to consider that while Trump was trying to hit birdies, an armed individual was lurking in the shadows, only detected thanks to the keen eyes of a Secret Service agent spotting a rifle barrel peeking through the underbrush.
With two threats emerging in close succession, it’s somewhat baffling to think how this slipped through the cracks of an agency often considered impenetrable. The Secret Service had promised a new security strategy following the first assassination attempt, leading many to wonder how a second assassination could occur so quickly. Are the protective measures put forth by the agency merely a public relations exercise rather than solid security policies that effectively safeguard Trump?
Conspiracy theories are swirling, and Republican Representative Matt Gaetz weighed in with the unsettling speculation that there may be a spy in the ranks of the Secret Service. His colleagues share unease over the “vulnerability” of Trump and the possibility that there are informants working against him from within. The notion that someone in such a crucial security role could be compromised is as intriguing as it is alarming, especially given the strange patterns surrounding these attacks.
Is There a Mole Within the Secret Service? https://t.co/IYbRNaT1bF
— vannschaffner (@vannschaffner) September 20, 2024
Even former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino is sounding the alarm bells, suggesting that the entire system is off-kilter. He notes the potential for “honeypot traps” being set up within the agency, likening this theoretical mole not to a high-stakes spy novel but to a more real-world issue—someone’s trust being exploited. With the House of Saud’s currency, the Iranian regime’s documented ambitions to harm Trump, and the rapid spread of information via technology, he questions whether the Secret Service’s standard operating procedures are outdated.
In an era where information travels at lightning speed, it’s time to rethink the protocols surrounding off-the-record movements. This extensive vulnerability, including the potential for insiders to take advantage of the situation, has left many scratching their heads—and not in delight. Instead of embracing the concept of “off-the-record” as a means of protection, it may very well be time to reconsider this practice altogether. As the stakes remain high and Trump’s enemies continue to lurk in the dark corners of society, serious questions about the effectiveness of current security protocols must be addressed before another severe security breach or worse occurs.
