The Secret Service has granted former President Donald Trump the same level of protection as President Biden follow the assassination attempt at a rally, law enforcement sources told The Post.
The upgraded protection gives Trump the same security detail as the serving commander-in-chief, the sources said.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures with a bloodied face as multiple shots rang out during a campaign rally. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
- Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’
- Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities’ radar more than 90 minutes before shooting: report
- FBI to conduct victim interview with Donald Trump after assassination attempt
- Ex-Trump doc says FBI’s Wray is ‘wrong’ to doubt ex-prez was struck by bullet: ‘Absolutely no evidence’
- Trump defends female Secret Service agent who was criticized after assassination attempt: ‘So brave’
He previously received a lesser level of protection afforded to former presidents and major party presidential candidates.
The Secret Service has been strongly criticized for failing to stop a sniper from climbing on a roof 130 yards from Trump and firing eight rounds at the ex president before being killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper marksman.
The changes come as embattled Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faces increasing criticism following the Butler, Pa. rally, which left one hero firefighter dead and two others rally-goers injured.
Trump is covered by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. AP“The Secret Service is tasked with the tremendous responsibility of protecting the current and former leaders of our democracy. It is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously, and I am committed to fulfilling that mission,” Cheatle says in the statement.
Per the Former Presidents Act, Trump and his immediate family were guaranteed lifetime protection after he left office. Former presidents are given the option to reject this protection and instead receive compensation of up to $1 million each year to hire their own security and pay for travel expenses.
Before the attempt on Trump’s life, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) proposed stripping the former president of his security detail if he was sentence to prison.
Thompson and his bill’s co-sponsor, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Tex.), are both facing calls to resign in the wake of the attempted assassination.
