Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has decided that former President Donald Trump’s security level should now match that of President Joe Biden, which raises many eyebrows among conservatives. After another assassination attempt over the weekend, Mayorkas announced that the Department of Homeland Security has ramped up Trump’s security detail. This sudden care for Trump’s safety seems to drift in the wind of political expediency, turning a blind eye to the alarming frequency of threats against the former president.
At a Politico summit in Washington, attendees learned that there have been bipartisan calls for Trump to receive the same level of protection that Biden enjoys. In remarkably uncharacteristic fashion, acknowledging the safety of a Republican candidate while simultaneously ignoring the precarious situation he faces seems to scream “politics as usual.” Most people might assume that anyone facing assassination attempts would have security that reflects the seriousness of the situation. Yet, it took numerous close calls before the DHS decided to take any action at all.
Mayorkas: Trump is receiving approximately the same security as President Biden
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 17, 2024
The call for higher security came in the wake of a chilling incident in West Palm Beach, Florida, where an armed suspect named Ryan Routh set up shop with an assault rifle, a GoPro, and other tactical gear near Trump International Golf Club. It seems like the Secret Service wasn’t on the ball regarding security checks, as they failed to secure the perimeter before the former president’s arrival. Who thinks it’s a good idea to let a potentially dangerous individual wander around an area where a former president is? It’s as if they were counting on pure luck to keep things safe.
After the apprehension of Routh, he fled the scene only to be pulled over later by a police escort down Interstate 95, implying that perhaps the law enforcement agencies were playing a game of catch-up rather than engaging in preventive measures. The lack of foresight from the Secret Service raises serious questions about the adequacy of protective measures for Trump, particularly considering he’s been the target of two assassination attempts in as many months. There seems to be more than just a simmering frustration on the right, as the glaring double standard in security protocols goes unchecked.
One cannot help but notice that the mainstream media might have brushed off these concerning developments in favor of sensationalized narratives. Yet, with the continued threats against Trump, it’s likely that awareness of what he faces will only heighten calls for proper security. The real question remains: why has it taken two attempts on Trump’s life for the DHS to wake up and provide a security detail that aligns with the severity of the threats? Conservatives might be inclined to believe that if the roles were reversed and Biden faced such risks, he would have had the cavalry out years ago.