Shortly after reports emerged of a shooting near Donald Trump’s golf course, initial accounts suggested that it might be unrelated to him, possibly a road rage incident nearby. This seemed plausible because, seriously, how could someone get so close to Trump with a gun so soon after what happened in Butler, Pa.? It turns out that Trump was indeed the target, and now we have to ask some uncomfortable questions.
Just like the last attempt on Trump's life, the Democrats quickly came out with some boilerplate statements condemning political violence. One statement that came rather late was from Kamala Harris.
"I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today," a statement attributed to Kamala Harris posted shortly after midnight on Monday read. "As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more to [sic] violence."
Yeah, there was a typo.
She added, "I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance. As President Biden said, our Administration will ensure the Secret Service has every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to carry out its critical mission."
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These are empty words because after the first assassination attempt in Butler, Pa., nine weeks ago, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) revealed to Maria Bartiromo on Fox News that Trump's security detail told him months before they were repeatedly denied more resources and that they believed it was politically motivated.
"I also talked to President Trump's detail months and months ago, and I asked them if they were doing okay, and they told me they were having trouble getting the resources they needed," he said. "And you know, they felt at the time that it was politically motivated."
The notion that Trump received inadequate security because of political considerations is unfathomable. No one wants to believe that the Secret Service intentionally left Trump vulnerable, yet evidence kept piling up that this was the case. While the Secret Service acted swiftly to stop the second assassination attempt, the incident nevertheless raises new questions. In light of attention given to the lack of adequate security for Trump after July 13, how is it possible that a second incident occurred a mere nine weeks later?
I can't figure it out. Beefing up Trump's security after that was a no-brainer, yet it hasn't happened. Sure, Trump had to do political rallies at indoor venues, and bulletproof barriers are protecting him. All of that makes the Secret Service's job easier, and it's not so much a reflection of enhanced security.
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Sadly, it's hard not to be concerned that Trump is still not getting the necessary security he needs, that this is deliberate, and that the motivation for it is political. What we once believed to be a scenario limited to third-world countries now seems to be creeping into the fabric of American politics. The troubling possibility that political considerations are influencing the level of protection afforded to a former president is becoming increasingly real.
