(NewsNation) — The Secret Service is facing renewed criticism after an apparent second assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, with some saying the suspect may not have gotten as close as he did if Trump were a sitting president.
Trump is safe after what law enforcement is investigating as a second “attempted assassination” Sunday at his Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach in Florida.
The GOP nominee told Fox News he was on the fifth hole of his golf course Sunday when shots rang out.
It’s the second apparent attempt on Trump’s life since a gunman opened fire at a July 13 rally in Pennsylvania, wounding Trump’s ear. One rallygoer died at the July shooting and at least two others were seriously injured.
The Secret Service ramped up Trump’s security after the rally shooting. The agency also named an interim director after former Director Kimberly Cheatle stepped down in the face of widespread calls for her resignation. The Secret Service now faces renewed criticism after Sunday’s incident.
What kind of Secret Service protection does Trump receive?
Trump receives Secret Service protection because he’s a former president and a major presidential candidate.
While he did have protection Sunday, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said at a news conference the course would have been surrounded if Trump were a sitting president.
That’s because the security perimeter is much larger for sitting presidents than former presidents or candidates, former Secret Service agents told NewsNation.
“That entire golf course would have been shut down and all of those wood lines would have been swept not only prior to, but as the president was moving along,” former Secret Service agent Michael Matranga said. “Not only on foot — but with dogs along with (a) countersurveillance unit.”
Local authorities said the gunman was about 400-500 yards away from Trump and hiding in shrubbery while the former president was playing a round of golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
Did the Secret Service adjust Trump’s security detail after the July shooting?
Trump’s protective detail has been higher than some of his peers because of his high visibility and his campaign to seek the White House again. His security was bolstered days before the July assassination attempt in Pennsylvania because of a threat on Trump’s life from Iran, U.S. officials said.
The Secret Service began surrounding Trump in bulletproof glass at campaign events in the aftermath of the July 13 shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Sunday’s response shows the adjustments agents made after the July assassination attempt are working, some agents said. But many say the agency needs to make more changes. Some feel the former president’s protection should be increased.
NewsNation reached out to the Secret Service to see if the agency has plans to increase Trump’s security detail. The agency hadn’t responded as of Monday morning.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
