Former Secret Service agent Richard Staropoli is sounding the alarm over potential threats to President-elect Donald Trump before his upcoming inauguration.
The Daily Caller reported that on Thursday, Staropoli voiced apprehensions that the current Secret Service might fail to prevent a serious threat against Trump before he takes office in January. His warning comes after two failed assassination attempts during the 2024 presidential campaign.
During the campaign, one attempt saw Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old, reaching a dangerous proximity to Trump with a rifle. This incident underscores the significant risks Trump has faced and continues to face leading up to his presidency. Staropoli expressed concerns regarding the capabilities of the current Secret Service during a television appearance on "America Reports."
Staropoli was critical of the Secret Service, questioning their preparedness and operational standards. He mentioned, “The Secret Service that you see out there today is not the Secret Service of yesteryear. Somewhere along the line, they’ve completely dropped the ball," indicating a severe drift from their known competence.
His critique calls into question the fundamental operational aspects that have historically upheld the security of the president of the United States.
Simultaneously, a Congressional hearing featured Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, who sparred with Republican Representative Pat Fallon of Texas.
The debate became particularly tense regarding Rowe’s presence at a 9/11 memorial on the day of the hearing. Rowe defended his participation by highlighting his role in the post-9/11 rescue operations, attempting to bring a personal perspective to the discussion.
Rowe’s testimony seemed to further fuel criticism that the Secret Service is lacking in both transparency and efficacy.
He insisted on the invisible aspects of security operations that are not apparent to the public eye, asserting their ongoing vigilance.
Despite this, Fallon accused Rowe of diverting the issue, signaling a lack of confidence in the explanations provided by the Secret Service leadership.
The discourse took a more alarming turn as Staropoli suggested the possibility of "something of a much bigger magnitude" occurring before the inauguration.
He elaborated, “It’s not going to be some 20-year-old kid on the roof of a building that’s allowed to get within 100 yards. It’s going to be something of a much bigger magnitude," hinting at more sophisticated threats. His remarks underscore a deep-seated worry about potential security lapses that could be catastrophic.
These assertions place a spotlight on the readiness and capabilities of the Secret Service at a critical juncture in American politics.
With Trump's inauguration on the horizon, the pressure is mounting to reassess and fortify security protocols effectively.
Staropoli’s stark warning is a call to action for the Secret Service to revisit and reinforce its traditional security measures, which entail a strong emphasis on human intelligence and physical presence on the ground.
His critique suggests a return to basics could be crucial in ensuring the safety of the president-elect in the weeks leading up to his presidency.
With past assassination attempts and warnings from experienced professionals like Staropoli, the necessity for stringent security reassessments cannot be understated. The world will be watching closely as new strategies are hopefully implemented to safeguard the future president amidst the challenge of increasingly sophisticated threats.