After witnessing the Secret Service’s mishandling of the attempted assassination of President Trump, it’s clear that every agent involved needs to be hauled before a Senate committee and grilled on live TV. This incident exemplifies why we drill.
First, let’s address the glaring oversight: a gunman was spotted on a rooftop, yet no immediate action was taken by the Secret Service or law enforcement. Why wasn’t the rooftop secured beforehand? Secret Service protocol involves sweeping every potential threat area multiple times. A former agent once told me about a thorough search he conducted in Los Angeles for a fundraiser, checking every nook and cranny. Clearly, this protocol was ignored.
Communication breakdowns also played a role. Once a threat is identified, it should be relayed instantly through a clear communication chain. During event setup, a detailed map should have assigned codes to every building and structure. When a threat is reported, agents should respond decisively. None of this happened, and it shows a disturbing lapse in standard procedures.
Next, the response to the shooting was embarrassingly slow. Multiple shots were fired, and it took five seconds for agents to react and shield Trump. Their primary job is to protect the president, even if it means physically carrying him off the stage immediately. Instead, Trump was left exposed for far too long, twice pausing to retrieve his shoes and pump his fist to the crowd. This isn’t on Trump—it’s the Secret Service’s job to ensure his safety, no matter what.
The evacuation to the vehicle was another fiasco. It took eight agents an eternity to get Trump into the car, and his head remained exposed for three crucial seconds. These agents need to drill every possible scenario, including hostile or cooperative behavior from the person they’re protecting. The vehicle should have exited the area much faster. Until it joins the caravan, everyone knows where the “package” is, making it an easy target.
Female agents on the perimeter were distracted, failing their primary duty of crowd control and threat detection. The perimeter was clearly insecure. This isn’t about gender; it’s about competence. This botched operation reflects poorly on the Secret Service, showcasing the deployment of poorly trained agents for one of the most polarizing figures in American politics.
Accountability is crucial. The supervisor who assigned this team should be fired. The trainers who signed off on these agents’ competency need to be suspended and investigated. Training standards for presidential protection must be re-evaluated. Drills are essential to create muscle memory and desensitize the body’s reaction to adrenaline. Americans deserve an elite Secret Service, regardless of political affiliation. Unfortunately, today’s Secret Service has proven it is far from that.
