The US secret service announced that a publicity stunt by Ohio US Senator JD Vance, the republican Vice Presidential candidate, involving Air Force Two, did not violate security measures. The incident, which occurred in a Wisconsin Airport, attracted attention with what some described as creepy and strange stalker behavior.
The situation began when Vance left the former president Donald Trump’s campaign plane and headed straight for Air Force Two. The two campaigns held dueling events in Eau Claire.
Vance, flanked by staff and Secret Service agents, strolled toward reporters gathered for the vice president’s arrival. Kamala Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz. Vance said he just wanted to see his “future plane.”
Vance never saw Harris or Walz because the Democratic motorcade drove off as the Republican strolled by.
A Secret Service spokesman said The lawyer that Vance’s approach to the vice president’s plane was not considered a security breach, “without going into details” of the agency’s methods. The spokesman explained that Harris and Vance were both protected by the Secret Service and that access to the airport tarmac was the Secret Service’s responsibility. The spokesman added that the people accompanying Vance were his authorized personnel.
Video footage showed an agent from Harris’ team approaching Vance and his team as they approached Air Force Two and appearing to wave to them. However, the Secret Service spokesman clarified that the agent’s gesture was a signal that the vehicles in the motorcade were about to leave, not a wave to Vance.
While Vance’s actions generated a media frenzy over the odd display, they were ultimately deemed harmless under established security protocols. On the tarmac, Vance told reporters he had “a little fun” trying to catch up with Harris. He also took a swipe at her, criticizing the vice president for not giving a lengthy interview or press conference since she began her campaign. “I at least have enough respect for all of you and for the American people to come and talk to you and answer questions,” Vance joked before awkwardly walking away.
The Secret Service’s clarification comes at a time when the agency is under intense scrutiny. Last week, the acting director of the Secret Service expressed his disgrace at the agency’s failure to protect Trump from an assassination attempt in July. The Associated Press reported that Ronald Rowe Jr. testified on July 30 about the numerous security lapses and misunderstandings that led to the near-fatal incident in PennsylvaniaRowe said he was ashamed of what he saw and could not justify why the roof used by the shooter was not better secured.
In response to the assassination attempt on Trump, the Secret Service has significantly increased its security measures. AccordinglyThe IndependentSecret Service snipers were deployed at the Harris-Waltz rally in Eau Claire. It was the first major outdoor presidential campaign event since the Trump shooting incident in Butler.
