Trump rally moved over Secret Service staffing concerns
Former President Trump moved the venue for his Saturday campaign rally in Wisconsin amid concerns over Secret Service staffing, a senior official briefed on the planning confirmed to The Hill.
Trump was reportedly expected to hold his campaign event outdoors at an airport, according to NBC and CBS News, which first reported details of the switch. The senior official confirmed that his event was moved to a smaller venue given a shortage of Secret Service staff — the event also coincided with the United Nationals General Assembly.
“The agency was never configured to provide such an elevated level of protection for an increasing number of protectees. Our personnel and equipment are being pushed to their limits to sustain the current operational tempo,” the senior official said.
“This proposed Wisconsin event also took place during the United Nations General Assembly, where the Secret Service is responsible for the safety and security of over 140 world leaders amid a challenged global threat level,” the senior official noted.
The senior official also noted that acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe has been advocating for a “paradigm shift.”
“This paradigm shift would also position the agency to enhance its operational readiness to reduce reliance on external partners when providing heightened protection,” the official said.
An advisory on the Trump campaign website notes the event is scheduled to take place at the Prairie du Chien Area Arts Center.
U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi noted that the agency could not offer specifics on resources allocated for the event.
"Former President Donald Trump is receiving heightened levels of U.S. Secret Service protection and our top priority is mitigating risks to ensure his continued safety at all times,” Guglielmi explained. “Out of concern for operational security, we cannot provide specific details about resources allocated for event security or communications between agency personnel and our protectees."
The Secret Service has been under heightened scrutiny in the wake of two failed assassination attempts against the former president, with the first attempt causing injuries to Trump’s ear.
A bipartisan House task force created to investigate the Trump assassination attempts held its first hearing Thursday. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee separately released a report this week which detailed shortcomings around the Secret Service's handling of the July assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.
The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
-
CBS News - Top stories
Secret Service staffing shortage prompts Trump campaign to move rally
Former President Donald Trump's campaign scrapped plans for an upcoming outdoor rally in Wisconsin after the Secret Service said it did not have the personnel needed to secure the site.22 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Politico - Politics
‘A perfect storm of stunning failure’: Senate probe finds huge Secret Service errors at Trump rally
2 days ago - Donald Trump -
ABC News - Sports
Tigers rally late to move closer to playoffs with 4-3 win over Rays
Justyn-Henry Malloy’s eighth-inning sacrifice fly helped the Detroit Tigers rally from a 3-0 deficit to move closer to the postseason with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays20 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
School shootings raise new concerns over cell phone bans
Recent school incidents, particularly this month's school shooting in Georgia, are raising new concerns about cell phone bans. After the Apalachee High shooting, as well as the rash of bomb ...7 hours ago -
NBC News - Politics
House task force hears what went wrong at Trump rally shooting
The bipartisan House task force investigating the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa., held a hearing with local and federal law enforcement officials. NBC ...22 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Michael Cohen on Trump rallies: 'He's demented and it's showing more often'
Michael Cohen, an ex-fixer for former President Trump who has turned into a vocal critic, says the wind has gone out of the sails of the former president's campaign to return to the White House. ...21 hours ago - Donald Trump -
NBC News - Politics
Independent journalist publishes Trump campaign document hacked by Iran
An American journalist who runs a Substack newsletter published a document Thursday that appears to have been stolen from Donald Trump’s presidential campaign18 hours ago - Donald Trump -
ABC News - Sports
Judge tosses lawsuit against congressman over posts about man not involved in Chiefs' rally shooting
A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit against Tennessee U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett over social media posts falsely accusing a man of being one of the shooters at the Kansas City Chiefs' 2024 Super Bowl ...21 hours ago
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Israel says it struck Hezbollah HQ in downtown Beirut
Israel’s Defense Forces on Friday said it carried out a strike on Hezbollah’s central headquarters in Beirut, with media reports indicating a large explosion and plumes of orange and black smoke ...45 minutes ago - Israel -
The Hill - Politics
Democrats call for DOJ intervention in Boar's Head listeria outbreak
Two Democrats are urging the Department of Justice to get involved with the fallout of a nationwide listeria outbreak linked to a Boar’s Head plant. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Rosa ...47 minutes ago -
The Hill - Politics
12:30 Report — Harris’s first border trip in 3 years; Helene batters Florida
{beacon} 12:30 REPORT Happy Friday! The Southeast is getting slammed by Hurricane Helene. Yikes, it's a scary storm. Stay safe, my friends. Here’s what we’re covering today: Harris is visiting the ...53 minutes ago - Florida -
The Hill - Politics
Iranian operatives charged in Trump campaign hack
The Justice Department has charged several Iranian operatives in connection with the hack of former President Trump’s 2024 campaign. Prosecutors on Friday unsealed charges against Masoud Jalili, ...53 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Israel is losing, but can win if it adjusts its goals
It can only win if it narrows its aims, matching ends with means.56 minutes ago - Israel