Republicans' Allegations True Over Donald Trump's Assassination Attempt? US Secret Service Admits Denying Additional Asset Requests

The United States Secret Service has now stated that it had earlier denied requests for additional resources sought by former president Donald Trump’s security detail in the two years leading up to his attempted assassination last week.

Following the shooting at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last weekend, the Secret Service faced criticism from Republicans for allegedly refusing requests for additional agents at Trump’s rallies.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, had initially denied these claims, but on Saturday (20 July), he acknowledged that some requests for additional federal security assets had been turned down. However, these denied requests were not specifically for the Butler rally.

US officials had previously indicated that security was increased for the Butler rally due to a potential Iranian assassination plot against Trump, as per a report by The Economic Times.

Guglielmi explained that the Secret Service operates in a "dynamic threat environment" and, when unable to provide additional resources, it supplemented security with state and local law enforcement or adjusted its security plans.

Guglielmi emphasised that the agency is limited in the resources it can dispatch, particularly during election seasons when it must protect multiple candidates and political conventions.

This admission is expected to intensify criticism of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who is scheduled to appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on Monday.

The Secret Service has also faced questions about its decision to exclude a nearby warehouse from its security zone, from which the shooter fired at Trump. Trump, who was injured in the attack, was quickly surrounded by agents and taken to safety.