The Secret Service is said to have withdrawn security forces from President Joe Biden to provide additional protection for former President Donald Trump after he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.
The decision to reduce the number of sitting presidents was unusual but necessary, according to a report by the New York Times.
Because Biden’s slower pace of action means he is relying on security forces at fewer and fewer events, the Secret Service felt it was safe to temporarily withdraw agents to protect Trump.
Donald Mihalek, who worked for the Secret Service for two decades before retiring in 2019, provided further insight into the decision.
Milhalek said the agency’s methodology is “flexible” and designed to “address known and unknown threats.”
“The steps the Secret Service is taking are a natural part of its asymmetric approach to ensure its mission is guaranteed to be accomplished,” he told the outlet.
The controversial Secret Service faced heavy criticism after failing to stop an assassin from opening fire on Trump during an outdoor rally in July. Despite Secret Service agents being warned several times before the shooting of the massive security threat, a gunman shot at Trump, killing one bystander and seriously wounding two others.
After facing intense pressure to resign, the agency’s chief executive, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned last month.
Trump has not held an outdoor rally since the July debacle, but the Secret Service announced plans to provide additional security should he decide to do so, including using ballistic glass to repel bullets at outdoor rallies.
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A bipartisan congressional investigation is currently underway, and the FBI is also investigating attempted murder.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the Secret Service for comment.
