The Secret Service revealed that former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during the 2024 campaign, marking the first time that Secret Service counter snipers were deployed to protect him.
In a critical news briefing on Friday, the U.S. Secret Service addressed the “colossal security failure” at the Butler, Pennsylvania Trump rally in response to the attempted assassination.
“Can you confirm that this was the first 2024 campaign event that counter-sniper teams were assigned to the former president?” CBS News reporter asked Rowe.
“As part of their advance, they identify those lines of sight, those high ground concerns, and there’s a division of labor,” said Rowe.
“With respect to whether or not this was the first time, it was. It was the first time Secret Service counter snipers were deployed to support the former president’s details.”
“The former president at campaign rallies has actually been getting state and local resources — tactical assets, counter snipers from state and locals,” Rowe added.
This raises the question: why were such measures only considered necessary on that day? What information was available to them?
CNN previously reported that the Trump campaign had been alerted to an Iranian assassination plot against Trump before the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The Secret Service reportedly increased security after receiving intelligence about the plot. It’s worth noting that the individual arrested at Saturday’s rally, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was not linked to the Iranian assassination plot, as per CNN.
“Secret Service learned of the increased threat from this threat stream,” the official told CNN. “NSC directly contacted USSS at a senior level to be absolutely sure they continued to track the latest reporting. USSS shared this information with the detail lead, and the Trump campaign was made aware of an evolving threat. In response to the increased threat, Secret Service surged resources and assets for the protection of former President Trump. All of this was in advance of Saturday.”
The Trump campaign refused to comment on the threat.
“We do not comment on President Trump’s security detail. All questions should be directed to The United States Secret Service,” the Trump camp told CNN.
At the press briefing last Friday, acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. disclosed the precise timeline and pivotal events that unfolded on the day of Trump’s shooting.
Rowe acknowledged that Secret Service staff were unaware of Thomas Crooks possessing a firearm during former President Trump’s speech until gunshots were heard.
“At 6:00 PM, former President Trump took the stage to begin remarks. And based on what I know right now, neither the Secret Service counter-sniper teams nor members of the former President’s Security Detail had any knowledge that there was a man on the roof of the AGR building with a firearm. It is my understanding that personnel were not aware the assailant had a firearms until they heard gunshots,” said Rowe.
According to Rowe, at 6:11 PM ET, Thomas Crooks fired three shots at Trump from a distance. Rowe stated that it took just 15.5 seconds for a countersniper to neutralize Crooks after he fired.
Rowe said, “At 6:11 PM, the assailant’s first volley of three shots was fired, and within three seconds, the former President’s detail rushed the stage and covered former President Trump, shielding him with their own bodies. The fourth through eighth shots took place over the next several seconds. Fifteen and a half seconds after the assailant’s first shot, a Secret Service counter-sniper fired a single round that neutralized the assailant.”
Fox News obtained video from James Copenhaver, a victim of the Democrat donor Thomas Crooks, showing the shooter moving across the roof of the American Glass Research (AGR) building just before attempting to shoot Trump.
Crooks used the AGR building for his assassination attempt. Surprisingly, the Secret Service had left the area unguarded despite its proximity to Trump.
When questioned about personnel terminations related to the incident, Rowe stated that no one has been fired for the attempt on President Trump’s life.
