Thomas Matthew Crooks shot Trump from a roof at his last Butler rally. The Secret Service has a massive plan to avoid another failure
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 latest trip to the city.
The embattled agency has endured numerous controversies since the ex-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 pressure is on the Secret Service not to screw this one up.
And the agency is working hard to ensure it doesn’t embarrass itself further.
Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by Secret Service agents as he is taken off stage during a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. He returns to Butler on Saturday for a rally
“Since the attempted assassination of former President Trump on July 13, the U.S. Secret Service has made extensive changes and improvements to our communications capabilities, assets and protective operations,” U.S. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi wrote in a statement to DailyMail. com.
“Concerning the Oct. 5 event in Butler, we are working closely with the Pennsylvania State Police and with local law enforcement in and around Butler Township,” he added.
“We are also leveraging other federal security resources to increase staffing and technology.”
Their staff expansion includes placing Secret Service agents both inside and outside the secure perimeter, sources said CBS News.
And unlike July 13, Secret Service, Pennsylvania State Police and Butler County Police officers will all be stationed together in one command post.
Having multiple command stations during the July event led to confusion and a scattered response, witnesses before Congress have testified.
Grandstands are set up prior to a campaign event for Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, at the Butler Farm Show, Friday, October 4, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania
Trump credits the map shown here with saving his life when he was shot just after he turned to look at the graph
The outlet also reports that officers will be assigned to the roof of AGR’s infamous glass building.
The roof is infamously where Crooks shot the ex-president.
Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told lawmakers at a congressional hearing on the July 13 shooting that no agents were stationed there because of the steep slope, a response that earned her the ire of both Republicans and Democrats, a tough feat in today’s partisan political climate. .
“Today the former president will receive increased protection and we take very seriously the responsibility to ensure his safety and security,” Guglielmi assured DailyMail.com.
Some of the new technology that will be on display at Trump’s rally that wasn’t seen at the last rally is bulletproof glass.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks from behind bulletproof glass during a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina, U.S., August 21, 2024
Former U.S. 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, September 21, 2024
The Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, is being covered by US Secret Service agents
After being shot, Trump stood up and pumped his fist at his concerned supporters
The glass first appeared during its first outdoor rally after July 13, on August 21.
Bulletproof glass was also used during events on September 7 and 21, but this will be the first use in Butler.
Officers are also parking agricultural vehicles around the rally site and adding protective improvements around the stage, CBS reports.
According to the report, drones will also be used to secure the rally site.
The last time around in July, Trump struggled to get a drone in the air before the shooting, a mistake that came to light during the Congressional hearings.
More local law enforcement officers from Pennsylvania will also be present, the sources confirmed to the newspaper.
Secret Service agents rush Trump off stage after he was shot
Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the rally, which will include special guests such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk and GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance.
The Butler event starts at 5:00 PM ET.