October 11, 2024 – Trump’s campaign recently asked the Biden administration to provide more security because he worries that he might be under threat in the final weeks of the presidential campaign. The Trump campaign asks for use of military forces, broadened flight limits, and ballistic shields as the candidate continues campaigning in conflict zones, The New York Times and The Washington Post said. Such requests arise at a time when dangers to the former president’s life become more acute, and the 2024 election becomes more contentious.
Growing Security Concerns for Trump
Trump’s administration issued these security orders following multiple recent assassinations, including a shooting in July of Trump in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Thomas Crooks, the shooter, was killed by Secret Service officers. The other killer, Ryan Routh, had also tried to assassinate Trump in September on his West Palm Beach golf course. Additionally, Iranians have been the subject of numerous assassination efforts, with a Pakistani national Asif Merchant accused of recruiting assassins to kill Trump for Iran.
These threats have also driven the Trump campaign into logistical trouble to hold large events, as it’s had to cancel, reduce or shift several rallies. Campaign manager Susie Wiles says the dearth of Secret Service resources has taken a huge toll on Trump’s freedom to go to events and travel as much as he likes.
Wiles complained in emails to White House spokesman Jeff Zients and Secret Service Director Ronald L. Rowe Jr that security concerns are keeping Trump from campaigning. She said that several events have been postponed for “lack of personnel” and that Trump’s team is seeking further security resources, including military aircraft and stowed ballistic glass at key rally sites.
This demand for security updates from the campaign is first in presidential politics and shows how worried Trump’s operatives really are after what a litany of assaults he has experienced since campaign beginnings.
Biden’s Response to Trump’s Security Requests
President Joe Biden speaking to France 24 reporter Fraser Jackson has reportedly said he would support increasing the security for Trump, and that Trump “should be afforded the same Secret Service protections as if he were a sitting president.” He added, “Give him all that he needs. If it fits within that category, that’s fine. But if it doesn’t, he shouldn’t.”
Though Biden’s remarks were applauded, his administration has so far failed to put into action what Trump’s campaign had called for. The Secret Service has reassured Trump that he is getting the most comprehensive security a former president can get, with military-grade technology for anti-aircraft missiles and extra security at his homes and campaign sites. But Trump’s people still want more – more military transport and additional safeguards for public appearances.
Kamala Harris Supporters Escalate Calls for Trump’s Imprisonment or Death
Security – and Trump-related, vitriol from the political left that goes after Trump – add to the security problems. In the past several months, rhetoric from supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris has gotten worse and many have jumped out at Trump and demanded his arrest or death. This antagonism has become much more acute than at any election time in history, indicative of the growing animosity in US politics.
On social media, many prominent Harris supporters cried foul and demanded that Trump get in jail or something more serious, that he was a threat to democracy or a criminal. They’re frequently echoed on Twitter, where most popular accounts call for extreme action against the former president.
Even in the political world, hatred towards Trump is worse than ever. Several Democratic legislators and media pundits have echoed these sentiments, even calling Trump out to get sent to prison for the January 6th Capitol riot or for his alleged attempts to flip the 2020 election. Demands that Trump be prosecuted have been a main feature of Harris’s campaign, creating further friction between her backers and the Trump base.
Such hate is nothing new, but has exploded with Trump being seriously in competition for Harris’s 2024 election. Trump met with vehement opposition from Democrats in 2016 and 2020, but this time the personal hostility toward him seems more acute than at any time in the past. The mood is charged, increased rhetoric from both camps feeding a more divided, hostile political environment.
Political Vitriol and Its Role in Threats Against Trump
Trump’s increasingly hostile rhetoric has certainly added to the real world security concerns. Specifically, Internet appeals for violence or vengeance against the former president raised the threat that extremists will try to use those calls. Trump’s counsel has pointed to the tense political climate as a reason why he is no longer alone in the increasing number of attacks on him and needs extra security.
This surge in gun violence is not exclusive to Trump’s presidential campaign. In general, the 2024 election season has witnessed a growing political animosity and conflict as each side accuses the other of subverting democracy. Yet Trump is an odd target due to his extreme personality and his instrumentality in creating the modern Republican Party.
Trump’s legal battles (which include Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probes of what he did on Jan. 6th and election meddling) have only heightened pressure to imprison him, or worse. The former president’s legal problems served as more fodder for haters, and they have been associated with the election through the language of his trials.
Trump’s Campaign Continues Despite Security Challenges
As the threats continued to grow, Trump’s campaign has continued to move forward, with rallies set for key battleground states over the next few weeks. The security measures demanded by the campaign are designed to keep Trump from being targeted by attackers, so that he can remain in touch with voters.
Political animosity and increased threats to candidates are the makings of the 2024 election as one of the most controversial in US history. Trump’s request for presidential security illustrates just how challenging he is as both a presidential candidate and as a former president. Even after the election is near, security will still be a top priority when it comes to how candidates can be safeguarded and elections run safely and efficiently.
For more information, see The New York Times and The Washington Post.
