Folks, if you’ve been keeping up with the latest headlines, you know there’s some serious trouble brewing within the Secret Service, especially after what went down in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. That’s the day when former President Donald Trump was nearly assassinated, and a rally-goer lost their life. It’s a shocking event that has everyone asking, “How could this happen?” And honestly, the answers—or lack thereof—are pretty disturbing.
Let’s start with the basics. On that fateful day, a man named Thomas Matthew Crooks managed to get into a position where he could take a shot at Trump. The question on everyone’s mind is: how did this happen? Why was the rooftop overlooking the rally left unprotected? Congress wants answers, the American people want answers, and so far, all we’ve got are more questions.
Now, it turns out that this incident might be just the tip of the iceberg. According to Susan Crabtree from RealClearPolitics, there are deep-seated issues within Trump’s Secret Service detail that have been festering for a while. We’re talking about a 60-person team that’s reportedly dealing with internal division, long hours, constant stress, and some serious misconduct allegations. Things have gotten so bad that one member of the team tragically took their own life last year.
The issues don’t stop there. Allegations have surfaced about improper relationships, mental health struggles, and even agents falling asleep on the job at Mar-a-Lago. And get this—there’s an agent who’s been posting photos and videos on social media while on duty, potentially compromising the safety of the protectees and other agents. It’s no wonder that the atmosphere in this team has been described as toxic.
The July 13 incident in Butler only underscores the extent of the dysfunction. The agent responsible for overseeing the security plan that day has been heavily criticized. Sources say she was inexperienced and that the position was rotated among the team, not necessarily based on merit. This same agent was reportedly posting on social media while on duty, further raising concerns about the professionalism and preparedness of the team.
But it doesn’t end there. The Secret Service, as a whole, has been plagued by embarrassing incidents. There was a case where a drunk person managed to get into National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s home and another where a man spent the night at the Miami Field Office after slipping in through a propped-open door. This man even took a shower, watched porn on a computer, and asked staff for coffee—all without anyone realizing he didn’t belong there. If that doesn’t make you question the state of the Secret Service, I don’t know what will.
This Secret Service story from @SusanCrabtree is wild: Agents were admonished for falling asleep while guarding Mar-a-Lago this spring. https://t.co/M7QR07O3dg
— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) August 13, 2024
The July 13 attempt on Trump’s life was a wake-up call. The Secret Service’s inability to secure the area, lack of access to local radio systems, and failure to relay crucial information in time paint a grim picture. The recent bodycam footage of a frustrated local officer, who thought the agency was guarding the building where Crooks was hiding, says it all.
Could the Secret Service be any more obvious about the fact that they stood down so that Donald Trump would be killed in Butler Pennsylvania? https://t.co/wkDtpfOXFV
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) August 9, 2024
The bottom line? The Secret Service is in trouble, and it’s clear that something needs to change—fast. How many more close calls or tragic outcomes will it take before these issues are addressed?
