The security of former president Donald Trump was compromised when a gunman fired at him at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night. A bullet whizzed past his right ear, leaving a bloodied US presidential candidate on stage, with Secret Service men rushing him off the stage.
As the US goes into the election mode, much of the focus will shift to the shooter and security lapses after Saturday’s incident.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whose department oversees the Secret Service, said officials were engaged with the Biden and Trump campaigns and “taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.”
The attack has raised some serious questions about the security protocols of former US presidents.
Who Protects Former US Presidents?
The United States Secret Service, one of the nation’s oldest federal investigative law enforcement agencies, protects former presidents and their spouses.
In 1965, Congress authorised the Secret Service (Public Law 89-186) to protect a former president and his/her spouse during their lifetime, unless they decline protection.
Richard Nixon relinquished his Secret Service protection in 1985, the only president to do so.
How Does Secret Service Ensure Protection?
The level of security measures is determined based on intelligence assessments and coordination capabilities. The number of agents assigned to protect a former president depends on perceived threats and the duration since leaving office.
The Secret Service calls upon other federal, state and local agencies to assist on a daily basis. The Secret Service Uniformed Division, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the US Park Police patrol the streets and parks nearby the White House. The Secret Service regularly consults with experts from other agencies in utilising the most advanced security techniques. The military supports the Secret Service through the use of Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams and communications resources.
When the president travels, an advance team of Secret Service agents works with the host city, state and local law enforcement, as well as public safety officials, to jointly implement the necessary security measures.
How Former Presidents’ Security is Ensured
According to Ronald Kessler, the author of ‘In the President’s Secret Service’, former presidents can also remain potential targets for terrorists, with security details sometimes numbering around 75 officers for round-the-clock protection shortly after leaving office.
Recent former presidents are accompanied by four agents during outings, ensuring continuous coverage through shifts and day offs.
Compared to active presidency, security of a former president is less. Security protocols include thorough checks of venues like restaurants or convention halls before visits, involving background checks on staff and the deployment of bomb-sniffing dogs.
What is Donald Trump’s Security Arrangement?
According to former Secret Service agent Tim Miller, Donald Trump’s security is unique because he is not only a former president but also a presidential candidate. This dual status adds complexity as Trump travels extensively between various locations.
While other former presidents like George W. Bush, who lived relatively private lives post-presidency, at their ranch, Trump maintains a more public and active profile. Therefore, maintaining his security is paramount.
Regarding Trump’s legal challenges, Miller stresses that the Secret Service maintains continuous protection throughout such circumstances, ensuring that no one else assumes responsibility for his security besides the agency itself.
The Secret Service said in a statement that it had recently added “protective resources and capabilities” to Trump’s security detail, without providing further details, according to Reuters.
Security At Trump Rally
During most of Trump’s campaign stops, local police aid the Secret Service in securing the venue. Before the event, agents scan the venue for bombs or other threats, and Trump invariably arrives in a fortified motorcade.
Law enforcement officials typically put up barriers as a perimeter, and require all attendees to go through a metal detector to enter the venue. Armed protective agents search all attendees’ bags and even wallets. Many rallygoers are patted down by hand.
Paul Eckloff, a former Secret Service agent who retired in 2020, said agents would have surveyed all the rooftops with a line of sight ahead of time.
When Obama Restored Lifetime Secret Service Protection
Former President Barack Obama signed the Former Presidents Protection Act in 2012 to reinstate lifetime Secret Service protection for former presidents.
Not all lawmakers agreed with the decision. Republican Representative Howard Coble of North Carolina argued that former presidents often have lucrative post-presidential careers and should fund their own security arrangements.
When Bill Clinton was in power in 1994, the Congress amended a law to limit lifetime protection for former presidents to just 10 years, citing a belief that continued protection was unnecessary and that former presidents were unlikely targets.