The Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump has released its final report, detailing critical failures by the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement partners during two separate attempts on the former president’s life in 2024.
The report, unanimously approved by the Task Force on December 5, outlines 37 actionable recommendations to address the “failures in planning, execution, and leadership” that left Donald Trump and rally attendees vulnerable during the July 13 campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania.
On July 13, 2024, an armed assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire at Trump’s rally, injuring the former president with a bullet that grazed the upper part of his right ear. According to the report, critical errors included:
- Failure to secure high-risk areas near the venue.
- Inexperienced personnel assigned to advance planning roles for a high-stakes outdoor event.
- Preexisting leadership and training gaps within the Secret Service.
The report emphasized that while no single decision or moment led to the incident, a combination of missteps created an environment where such a tragedy could occur.
In stark contrast to the events in Butler, a second assassination attempt on September 15, 2024, at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, was successfully thwarted. A Secret Service member spotted Ryan Wesley Routh hiding in nearby bushes with an AK-style rifle. Proper planning and vigilance prevented a potential disaster, showcasing how effective security measures can save lives.
The Task Force’s findings are clear: the Secret Service must address its leadership and training deficiencies to prevent similar incidents in the future. Whistleblowers, including Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), revealed troubling gaps in preparedness, with some agents assigned to high-risk events after only completing brief online training sessions.
These revelations come as a sobering reminder of the stakes involved in protecting public figures and the need for robust, well-coordinated security protocols.
The events of 2024 highlight both the vulnerabilities and strengths of America’s protective services. While the report outlines failures that must be addressed, it also offers a path forward to ensure such lapses do not occur again.
