The secret service should be ashamed of themselves for letting it get to this.
On Monday, Representative Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) proposed that former President Donald Trump might need to consider hiring additional private security following the second apparent assassination attempt within a few months.
In an interview on “The Hill” broadcast on NewsNation, Fulcher remarked, “If I were in President Trump’s shoes and my top priority was to ensure my safety, I would definitely explore various security options, including potentially hiring private security to bolster protection.” Fulcher expressed concerns over the lack of transparency from the intelligence community, stating, “The intelligence agencies have not been completely open in their communications with Congress.”
While Fulcher commended the Secret Service for averting a larger disaster at Trump’s golf course on Sunday, he criticized the intelligence community for eroding trust within Congress. He noted, “It’s remarkable that the biggest factor influencing this election cycle is now ensuring Donald Trump’s safety. Typically, our focus would be on policies, voter engagement, and other electoral issues, but currently, it seems that our primary concern is keeping Donald Trump safe.”
Fulcher further emphasized the critical role of the Secret Service in protecting Trump, saying, “It’s fortunate that a Secret Service agent acted swiftly and potentially saved President Trump’s life. However, the broader issue is the growing mistrust in the intelligence community’s ability to effectively carry out its duties.”
This interview followed a recent incident in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump was the target of a second apparent assassination attempt at his golf course. Secret Service agents observed a man with a rifle at the perimeter of the course. The rifle was protruding through the bushes from a distance of 300-500 yards. A Secret Service agent intervened, shooting at the man who then dropped his AK-47-style rifle and fled. The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was apprehended before any harm could be done.
This incident, coming on the heels of a similar attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, has raised significant concerns about the adequacy of security measures surrounding the former president.
