The Secret Service has rethought its playbook when it comes to protecting Donald Trump at rallies in Butler, Pennsylvania, after he was shot during his last trip to the city.
The embattled agency has weathered numerous controversies since the former president was shot in the ear by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks during his last visit to the quiet area on July 13.
With another assassination attempt on Trump on September 15 in Florida, the Secret Service is under pressure not to botch it.
And the agency is working hard to make sure it doesn’t suffer any further embarrassment.
Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by Secret Service agents as he is led off stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. He will return to Butler on Saturday for a rally
“Since the attempted assassination of former President Trump on July 13, the United States Secret Service has made comprehensive changes and improvements to our communications capabilities, resources and protective operations,” wrote US Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, in a statement to DailyMail.com.
“Regarding the October 5 event in Butler, we are coordinating closely with the Pennsylvania State Police as well as local authorities in and around Butler Township,” he added.
“We are also leveraging other federal security resources to expand personnel and technology.”
Its personnel expansion will include placing Secret Service agents both inside and outside the secure perimeter, the sources said. CBS News.
And unlike July 13, officers from the Secret Service, Pennsylvania State Police and Butler County Police will be stationed together at a single command post.
Having multiple command stations during the July event led to confusion and a scattered response, witnesses testified before Congress.
Bleachers are set up before a campaign event for former President Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate, at the Butler Farm Show, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump credits the graphic shown here with saving his life, as he was shot right after turning to look at the graphic.
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The outlet also reports that the infamous AGR glass building will have agents assigned to its roof.
The roof is the place where Crooks shot the former president.
Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told lawmakers during a congressional hearing on the July 13 shooting that agents were not stationed there because of the steep slope, a response that earned her the ire of both Republicans and of Democrats, a difficult feat in today’s partisan political environment. .
“Today, the former president receives greater protection and we take the responsibility of guaranteeing his safety very seriously,” Guglielmi told DailyMail.com.
Some of the new technologies that will be presented at the Trump rally that were not seen at the last one are bulletproof glass.
Republican presidential candidate and former United States President Donald Trump speaks behind bulletproof glass during a campaign rally, at the North Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum in Asheboro, North Carolina North, USA, August 21, 2024.
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump dances behind bulletproof glass as he concludes his remarks during a campaign rally at the Aero Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, on September 21, 2024.
Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, is covered by US Secret Service agents.
After being shot, Trump stood up and shook his fist at his worried supporters.
The crystal first appeared at its first outdoor rally after the July 13 shooting on August 21.
Bulletproof glass was also used during the events of September 7 and 21; however, this will be its first use at Butler.
Officers are also parking farm vehicles around the rally site and adding protective upgrades around the stage, CBS reports.
According to the report, drones will also be used to secure the rally venue.
Last time, in July, Trump’s protection team had difficulty getting a drone to fly through the sky before the shooting occurred, a mistake that emerged during congressional hearings.
More local Pennsylvania law enforcement officers will also attend, sources confirmed to the outlet.
Secret Service agents remove Trump from stage after being shot
Tens of thousands are expected to attend the rally which will feature special guests including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance.
The Butler event is scheduled to begin at 5 pm ET.
