MILWAUKEE — Security at the Republican National Convention (RNC) is on high alert following a failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump Saturday night. Tensions are particularly heightened after the incident, with the convention floor sergeant-at-arms admitting that trust in the Secret Service has become noticeably strained.
If I were a Secret Service member, I’d be ashamed. I’d be embarrassed,” Shawn Steel, an RNC delegate from California and the convention’s sergeant-at-arms, told The Post. And they are, and you can sense it, feel it.
As the sergeant-at-arms, Steel is responsible for notifying on-site police of any potential threats he observes on the RNC floor. Although he lacks law enforcement experience, his role allows him to alert others to the situation.
The Secret Service has come under scrutiny after they failed to prevent Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old gunman, from shooting at Trump during an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday night. Despite agents being present at the event, Crooks managed to shoot Trump in the ear and kill rally-goer Corey Comperatore.
Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle stated that the roof where Crooks was positioned was “sloped,” which could have been a reason not to place an agent on it due to safety concerns. Following the shooting, Secret Service agents fatally shot Crooks and rushed Trump to his motorcade, where he was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Despite the assassination attempt, Steel maintains that security measures at the RNC are strong, as “there’s thousands of volunteers helping with security” and “we have a very sophisticated ID system and badges.” The entire convention is also protected by chain-linked fences that restrict vehicle access and only allow pedestrians in with daily badges and security screenings.
In response to the shooting, Secret Service officials told reporters that they would not be increasing their security measures at the RNC. We are confident in the plans that we have and are moving forward with those plans,” Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, the Secret Service’s RNC convention coordinator, said on Sunday.
On Monday, Trump was escorted onto the convention floor by an all-male Secret Service detail, a change from Saturday when he was accompanied by a mixed-gender crew. In light of the assassination attempt, President Joe Biden directed the Secret Service to increase their security resources for Trump.
The Secret Service has not yet responded to The Post’s inquiry regarding the matter.
