Hawley Raises Alarms Over Trump’s Security During Assassination Attempt: Whistleblowers Reveal Inadequate Training
In a startling revelation, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) disclosed that during an assassination attempt at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, the majority of agents assigned to protect him were Homeland Security personnel who had received minimal training.
Speaking on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Hawley stated that instead of the usual contingent of Secret Service agents, Trump was predominantly guarded by Homeland Security agents who had undergone just a two-hour online webinar as preparation. “I’m told that half the time, the sounds to the webinar didn’t even work,” Hawley said, expressing deep concern.
“The former president of the US was sent out on stage, most of the people there are not trained, they’re not qualified. They only got a webinar training and even that didn’t work,” he continued, describing the situation as “absolutely outrageous.”
Hawley further revealed that these Homeland Security agents were diverted from their regular duties, including child exploitation cases, to form part of Trump’s protective detail—a task they were not typically assigned.
Lack of transparency from the Secret Service and FBI
Hawley also criticized the Secret Service and FBI for withholding information about the rally and the subsequent assassination attempt. He pointed out that the public only became aware of these details due to whistleblowers.
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) had recently shared that a local Butler SWAT team played a crucial role in stopping the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, by firing the first shots that disabled Crooks’ rifle, preventing further violence before the Secret Service responded.
When acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe Jr. testified before Congress on July 31, he failed to mention the actions of the local SWAT team, a detail noted by Watters during the interview.