Staff Reports
In a twist that seems plucked right from a political thriller, the Secret Service has allegedly decided that protecting the current President of the United States, Joe Biden, isn’t quite as pressing as ensuring former President Donald Trump has a safe existence following a narrowly avoided attempt on his life. One can’t help but wonder what kind of world we’re living in when sitting presidents are sidelined for their predecessors, but the politically charged atmosphere and Biden’s decreased public appearances may have made this bizarre scenario necessary.
According to a report from the New York Times, it seems that Biden’s quieter calendar has led the Secret Service to reassess its priorities. The agency has decided that with Biden’s waning stamina for public events, it was safe to borrow from his detail for the urgent protection of Trump. This is certainly a curious case of “who’s more important?” when it comes to security decisions—especially given the trying times for the Biden administration.
Washington Examiner: Secret Service pulling from Biden’s security team to protect Trump: Report https://t.co/WxL9APiC88
— Ian’s Newsfeed 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHNewsFeed) August 16, 2024
The plot thickened this past July during one of Trump’s outdoor rallies in Pennsylvania. After the shooting that left Trump injured, one person dead, and others wounded, one has to ponder whether the Secret Service’s choice to temporarily shift its focus away from Biden was made with rolling eyes or sheer necessity. One former Secret Service agent, never one to pass up a chance to shed light on a potentially scandalous situation, weighed in on the agency’s so-called “flexible methodology” that apparently just flexed a little too far this time.
In the aftermath of the incident in Pennsylvania, and the subsequent resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, the once-stalwart agency is under more scrutiny than ever. As if the politicians weren’t already having a field day, the FBI is now involved as concerns grow over whether or not the Secret Service had truly assessed the risks with proper diligence beforehand. Sure, the agency received multiple warnings about the looming threat, but you know what they say: better late than never—though in this case, the “never” might have been preferable to the chaos that unfolded.
Now, as Trump grapples with his newfound notoriety, the Secret Service is ramping up its efforts to protect him. Plans involve using ballistic glass for future outdoor rallies as a precautionary measure, making one wonder if Trump may soon need more than just a strong security detail but perhaps a full-blown armored vehicle for all outdoor events. Meanwhile, Biden remains under the watchful eye of his detail, leaving many to question if he ever had to worry about being the primary target in the first place. One thing is clear: in America’s contemporary political circus, the safety of a former president may just be at the forefront.
