Secret Services Announce Major Changes To Trump’s Protection

In the wake of the assassination attempt at a rally, law enforcement sources have informed The Post that the Secret Service has granted former President Donald Trump the same level of protection as that afforded to President Biden. According to the sources, the enhanced security measures provide Trump with the same level of protection as that afforded to the incumbent president. He had previously been afforded a lesser level of protection than that provided to former presidents and major party presidential candidates. The Secret Service has been the subject of considerable criticism for its inability to prevent a sniper from accessing a vantage point 130 yards from Trump and opening fire with eight rounds before being neutralized by a Secret Service counter-sniper marksman. The modifications have been implemented in the context of mounting criticism of embattled Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle in the wake of the incident at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which resulted in the death of one heroic firefighter and injuries to two other individuals. "The Secret Service bears the significant burden of safeguarding both the incumbent and former leaders of our democracy. "I consider this responsibility to be of the utmost importance and am dedicated to fulfilling the mission entrusted to me," Cheatle states in the statement. By the Former Presidents Act, Trump and his immediate family were entitled to lifelong protection following his departure from office. Former presidents can decline this protection and receive compensation of up to $1 million annually to procure their own security personnel and defray travel-related expenses. Before the attempted assassination of Trump, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) proposed the revocation of the former president's security detail in the event of a prison sentence. Thompson and his bill's co-sponsor, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Tex.), are both the subject of calls for resignation in the wake of the attempted assassination.