News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/21st July 2024
In a recent interview, former President Donald Trump raised significant concerns about the Secret Service’s handling of a recent assassination attempt involving gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks. Trump revealed that he was not informed about Crooks, despite the fact that agents had identified the 20-year-old hours before the attack. Speaking to Jesse Watters on Fox News, Trump expressed his frustration, stating, “Nobody mentioned it. Nobody said it was a problem.” He further criticized the agency’s response, suggesting that they could have intervened earlier. “They could’ve said, ‘Let’s wait for 15, 20 minutes, 5 minutes.’ Nobody said…I think that was a mistake,” he added.
The former president questioned the Secret Service’s failure to prevent Crooks from accessing a rooftop with a rifle, just 130 yards from the rally site. Reports indicate that police had noticed Crooks on the roof 26 minutes before the shooting but took no action despite being alerted by witnesses. Trump’s concerns were heightened by the fact that Secret Service snipers only neutralized Crooks after he had already injured several people, including Trump himself, and killed firefighter Corey Comperatore. According to reports, an officer observed Crooks using a rangefinder and checking his phone almost an hour before Trump took the stage in Pennsylvania.
Trump’s critical remarks were accompanied by skepticism about the Secret Service’s overall preparedness. “How did somebody get on that roof?” Trump questioned. “And why wasn’t he reported, because people saw he was on that roof.” He recounted hearing from supporters at the rally who alerted authorities about the gunman, emphasizing that the warnings came well before he was scheduled to speak. “When you have Trumpers screaming, the woman in the red shirt, ‘There’s a man on the roof,’ and other people, ‘There’s a man on the roof and who’s got a gun’… that was quite a bit before I walked on the stage. And I would’ve thought someone would’ve done something about it,” Trump said.
In addition to his concerns about the immediate response, Trump revealed that Secret Service officials had consistently rejected his requests for enhanced security measures in the two years preceding the attack. According to sources, Trump had sought additional agents and magnetometers for large public events, as well as extra snipers for outdoor venues. However, senior Secret Service officials reportedly dismissed these requests, citing a lack of available resources.
The episode has prompted intense scrutiny of the Secret Service’s protocols and response strategies. Critics argue that the agency’s failure to act on early warnings and its refusal to bolster security at Trump’s events represent a serious lapse in its protective duties. As investigations continue, Trump’s public criticism underscores the ongoing debate over the effectiveness and preparedness of security measures for high-profile figures.
This incident has not only fueled discussions about the adequacy of current security practices but has also highlighted the challenges in safeguarding public events against potential threats. As the fallout from the shooting continues, both the Secret Service and Trump’s team face questions about how such a breach in security could have occurred and what steps will be taken to prevent future incidents.
