After experiencing two failed assassination attempts and facing threats of assassination from Iran, the Trump team has requested to raise security levels for President Trump, including the use of military aircraft, armored vehicles, and expanding flight restrictions for his residences and event locations. President Biden has stated that he has instructed the government to provide Trump with everything he needs.
On Friday, President Biden stated that the request to enhance security levels should be met, “as long as he doesn’t request to deploy F-15 fighter jets.”
Biden said, “I have told government departments to meet all of his needs as if he were the sitting president. If the conditions are met, then there is no problem.”
November 5th is the day of the US presidential election, and in the final weeks leading up to it, Trump has been traveling across the country, using different aircraft and staying at hotels different from usual.
According to three sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN, the Trump team has expressed a desire for Trump to fly on military aircraft equipped with missile defense systems to counter the threat of air-to-air missile attacks.
The heightened security level would break precedent. This marks the first time in modern American history that a presidential candidate or former president is allowed to fly on military planes before the election.
Multiple US media outlets reported that Susie Wiles, Trump’s campaign manager, had a conversation with Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, about two weeks ago, where the request to enhance security levels was raised. Wiles noted that due to safety concerns, Trump had to cancel a public event at the last minute, indicating disruptions to the campaign plan due to threats.
She also mentioned that the US government had failed to provide adequate plans to protect Trump. A copy showed that Florida Republican Congressman Michael Waltz had also written to the Secret Service requesting military aircraft or additional protection for Trump’s private plane.
In an email, Wiles formally requested increased security from Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe on September 30.
Sources indicated that Zients immediately connected Wiles with the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service for direct communication. Zients made it clear that President Biden had instructed the Secret Service to provide Trump with the highest level of protection.
The Trump team also requested the use of armored vehicles from the Secret Service and the utilization of other military assets, such as drones with thermal monitoring capabilities.
Furthermore, the Trump team asked the US Secret Service to increase stockpiles of bulletproof glass in several crucial swing states. Currently, whenever Trump holds outdoor events, the Secret Service uses bulletproof glass to protect him.
The Trump team also called for more funding for local law enforcement officers and requested additional administrative support from Secret Service headquarters.
A federal law enforcement official stated that the Secret Service is currently handling the Trump team’s requests, which will first be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security, then to the Department of Defense, and any other relevant units.
Last month, the Trump team stated that Trump had received briefings from officials in the Biden administration, understanding the “real and specific assassination threats” from Iran.
At the time, Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung stated that a representative of the US National Intelligence Director informed Trump that Iran was plotting to destabilize the US. He mentioned that intelligence officials confirmed an increase in these sustained and coordinated attacks over the past few months.