U.S. Secret Service acknowledges it failed to detect a gun brought in by a member of the club, at Donald Trump’s golf club outside of Washington, D.C. That gap was actually highlighted during a recent security screen in August with the previous president in-person. A loaded Glock semiautomatic pistol was found in the member’s bag. This unexpected result led the agency to initiate an internal investigation.
The lapse was only revealed after the club member first reported the gun missing last month. In this case, the Secret Service dropped the ball on recognizing the weapon in advance. This begs troubling questions about their security procedures, particularly in light of the recent assassination attempts on Trump.
Over the past year, the Secret Service has come under heavy fire after two attempts on Trump’s life. One of them came during the time he was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida. On September 15, 2014, that same night, Ryan Routh was shot by a Secret Service agent. He had reportedly been ambushing with a semi-automatic rifle around the North Carolina golf course. Adding to the drama, this incident occurred while Trump was on the course, underscoring the security risks his public appearances may soon pose.
The agency’s situation quickly became untenable following a new shooting at a Presidential campaign event on July 13, 2024. The Philadelphia gunman, Thomas Crooks had killed one and badly wounded another before being stopped by a Secret Service sniper. Following the violent incident, then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle came under fire for lax security protocols. Just nine days later, she stepped down from her post.
Critics say that recent lapses show significant shortcomings in the agency’s capacity to protect the former president. They feel strongly that these lapses are important and alarming. The failure to detect such a firearm during a screening at Trump’s golf club is particularly alarming. This shocking event raises troubling questions about the adequacy of existing security measures.
“The U.S. Secret Service takes the safety and security of our sites very seriously and there are redundant security layers built into every one,” – The U.S. Secret Service
There have been a number of strange occurrences around Trump lately. As a first step, the agency has implemented an internal review process to review and improve their screening practices and avoid future oversights. Scrutiny is increasing, both from within the agency and without. Now, as the spotlight increasingly turns to the agency, people are asking how the Secret Service will adapt its tactics to keep high-profile individuals safe.
With several incidents occurring in close proximity to Trump, the agency’s internal review aims to assess and improve its screening procedures to prevent future oversights. As scrutiny continues, both from within and outside the agency, questions linger about how the Secret Service will adapt its strategies to ensure the safety of high-profile individuals.