A shooting incident at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania has raised serious questions about security protocols and prompted calls for swift investigations from Republican lawmakers.
According to early reports, a sniper managed to evade Secret Service agents and climb onto the roof of a building near the rally venue. The shooter fired multiple shots before being killed. At least one attendee claims to have alerted police and Secret Service to the apparent sniper, but his warnings went unheeded.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism of the Secret Service, which is primarily responsible for protecting Trump as a former U.S. president. Elon Musk, a prominent Trump ally, called for the agency’s leadership to resign.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced plans for an immediate hearing, stating on social media that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and officials from the Department of Homeland Security and FBI will be called to testify before congressional committees.
The Secret Service has initiated an investigation and briefed President Biden on the situation. They also stated that additional protective resources had recently been allocated to Trump’s security detail, though specifics were not provided.
Security experts predict a thorough review of Trump’s protection protocols. Joseph LaSorsa, a former Secret Service agent, suggested that Trump may now receive security measures more akin to those of a sitting president.
The incident occurred despite typically stringent security measures at Trump rallies, which include metal detectors, bag searches, and a secured perimeter. Paul Eckloff, another former agent, noted that the shooter must have either concealed themselves until becoming a threat or only revealed their weapons at the last moment.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Secret Service agents quickly formed a human shield around Trump, while armed personnel secured the stage. The former president was swiftly evacuated to a local hospital.