Since the failed assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, the United States Secret Services is receiving “additional assistance” from the Department of Defense for the smooth handling of the 2024 election campaigns and peaceful transition of power.
According to the Secret Service spokesperson, Anthony Guglielmi, the Defense Department is assisting them in “logistics, transportation, and communication” for the election campaigns.
Guglielmi noted that the Secret Service appreciates the “invaluable commitment of our military partners” in providing the highest possible security to keep the US White House contenders and their running mates safe from any harm.
The spokesperson did not provide any specific information about the nature of their collaboration with the Department of Defense, but he suggested that the agency usually works with local, state, and federal partners to carry out its operations.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh also confirmed the development, stating that the Department of Homeland Security, which is the parent agency of the Secret Service, requested assistance from the Defense Department, and Pentagon Chief Llyod Austin approved the request. Austin has now directed the United States Northern Command for the job, which means that military personnel could be seen around the Presidential and Vice presidential candidates and their families in the upcoming months.
Singh indicated that the collaboration will continue till the power is transitioned on January 20, 2025.
This partnership comes at a time when the Secret Service is still unable to conclude how a young shooter carrying a rifle managed to climb a stairless roof, take aim, and fire at the former US president.
Some insiders believe that Trump’s aspiring assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, used air conditioning units to climb the roof, but it still remains unclear how he evaded the security forces when he was actually flagged as a person of interest at least 20 minutes before his bullets almost took Trump’s life.
Then-Secret Service Director Kim Cheattle saw her reputation nosedive after the attack and ended up resigning from the helm of affairs after bipartisan lawmakers demanded her resignation.
Cheattle initially defied the resignation calls, but she was grilled unprecedentedly during her congressional testimonies, which resulted in her resignation.
After Cheattle’s departure, Ronald L. Rowe, Jr. assumed the charge of acting director of the Secret Service. Rowe felt “ashamed” of the stunning security lapse that led to the assassination attempt on the former president.
While the Secret Service has faced criticism from many circles, Trump himself has refrained from criticizing the agency and has instead praised them for their brave efforts to cover and rescue him in the aftermath of the attack.
The FBI is yet to determine the motive behind the attack that took the life of one man who received bullets on his body while protecting his wife and daughter.
