On Friday, November 1st, the United States Secret Service released a review report on the attempted assassination of former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania four months prior.
The report outlined several operational vulnerabilities leading up to the failed assassination attempt on July 13, 2024. It emphasized the critical mission of the Secret Service to protect the President, Vice President, and major presidential candidates.
The assailant intending to assassinate Trump was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, who had hidden on the rooftop of the American Glass Research (AGR) building near the campaign rally location to attack Trump, resulting in injuries to the former President and the unfortunate death of rally participant Corey Comperatore, with several others wounded.
While the Secret Service ultimately neutralized the threat posed by Crooks, the report highlighted operational errors that contributed to the attack. Apart from the internal Secret Service report, the incident triggered multiple investigations into the agency’s operational mistakes.
The report identified several communication and operational failures, including the failure to disseminate information about suspicious individuals through secure radio channels, limited sharing of detailed information about suspects among law enforcement officers using cell phone communication, and the failure of the local law enforcement to provide a radio to the Secret Service counter-sniper team, hindering direct radio communication between the two anti-sniper teams.
Furthermore, inadequate security measures were noted, allowing certain areas where potential attacks could originate to have unobstructed views of the podium used during Trump’s speech.
Supervisory personnel noted that anticipated obstructions to line of sight during the event were not in place when the former President arrived, and existing flaws at the venue were not identified by advance personnel or communicated to the command system, resulting in unresolved line-of-sight concerns.
The hot weather also posed a challenge during the rally with temperatures reaching up to 90°F (32.22°C). The Director of Emergency Medical Services in Butler County reported receiving 251 medical assistance requests.
The advance team from the agency suggested the need for more volunteers to provide medical services during the event, but coordination issues between campaign staff and the Secret Service led to a higher-than-expected proportion of security personnel assisting with medical aid.
The investigation identified corrective actions and possible disciplinary measures for several Secret Service personnel found to have violated protection policies.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. stated that the agency has initiated a “paradigm shift” program to address the issues outlined in the report.
Public Affairs Officer Anthony Gugliemi mentioned in a statement that ongoing efforts to enhance operations are informed by changes implemented since the tragic events.
These changes include an increase in Special Agents within Trump’s detail, agreements with federal partners to ensure more federal law enforcement presence, enhanced aerial surveillance with drones, bolstered ballistic defense measures, and the incorporation of new technologies.
The report was released just days before the U.S. election day, as both Trump and his Democratic opponent, Hillary Ho, intensified their public campaigns in battleground states to secure additional voter support during the final push.
The Secret Service pledged to provide “presidential-level, highest level of protection” for both Ho and Trump moving forward.
In a separate incident in September, the Secret Service thwarted another assassination attempt on Trump while he was playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The agency confirmed plans to work closely with Congress to “significantly increase the resources available to the Secret Service” moving forward.