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Snapshot 5:Mon, Jul 14, 2025 5:33:39 PM GMT last edited by Nick

Senate Report Criticizes Secret Service for Trump Shooting Failures

Senate Report Criticizes Secret Service for Trump Shooting Failures

Above: President Donald Trump is seen surrounded by secret service agents in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. Image copyright: Rebecca Droke/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

TheWhile Secretmistakes Service'soccurred, failuresthe in Butler representincident was a completeperfect breakdownstorm of securityevents protocolsrather thatthan endangereddeliberate Trump's lifenegligence. MultipleThe requestsSecret forService enhancedhas securityimplemented weresignificant denied,reforms criticalincluding intelligencenew wasn't sharedequipment, procedures and communicationtraining failuresto leftprevent agentsfuture unawareincidents. ofThe theagency threat.successfully Thethwarted weaka disciplinarysecond actionsassassination don'tattempt matchin theSeptember, severitydemonstrating ofimproved allowingcapabilities. aIt's gunmanimportant to nearlyfocus assassinateon reforms rather than a presidentialwitch candidatehunt.

WhileThe mistakesSecret occurred,Service's thefailures in Butler incidentrepresent was a perfectcomplete stormbreakdown of eventssecurity ratherprotocols thanthat deliberateendangered negligencePresident Trump's life. TheMultiple Secretrequests Servicefor hasenhanced implementedsecurity significantwere reformsdenied, includingcritical newintelligence equipmentwasn't shared, procedures and trainingcommunication tofailures preventleft futureagents incidents.unaware Theof agencythe successfullythreat. thwartedThe aweak seconddisciplinary assassinationactions attemptdon't inmatch September,the demonstratingseverity improvedof capabilities.allowing Leta usgunman focusto onnearly reformsassassinate rather a witchpresidential huntcandidate.

While mistakes occurred, the Butler incident was a perfect storm of events rather than deliberate negligence. The Secret Service has implemented significant reforms including new equipment, procedures and training to prevent future incidents. The agency successfully thwarted a second assassination attempt in September, demonstrating improved capabilities. It's important to focus on reforms rather than a witch hunt.


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