A former Secret Service agent has publicly stated that President-elect Donald Trump could be at risk of an imminent major attack due to Secret Service inadequacies.
The Daily Caller reported that Richard Staropoli, a former Secret Service operative, issued a stark warning on the Fox News program "America Reports" on Thursday. He expressed his lack of confidence in the current capabilities of the Secret Service to adequately protect President-elect Donald Trump against a substantial threat.
During his interview, Staropoli criticized the present state of the agency, asserting that it has deviated from its historical norms of excellence. He mentioned that the agency today is "politically compromised" and has "dropped the ball" on its core responsibilities of protection.
This critique followed a tumultuous year for Trump, who during the 2024 presidential campaign, was the subject of two assassination attempts.
One assassination attempt was particularly alarming: 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks reached rifle range by scaling a building during a Trump rally.
In light of these events, Staropoli warned that future incidents might far surpass past attempts in terms of their severity and sophistication. He vocalized serious concerns about the potential magnitude of an attack that could occur before Trump's upcoming inauguration.
"I’m not highly confident at all," Staropoli explained during the show. He continued, highlighting a need for the Secret Service to return to basics such as enhancing human intelligence and ensuring ample manpower on the streets to secure environments for the U.S. president efficiently.
On the same day, the House's Task Force on Trump Assassination Attempts held a hearing where tensions flared. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and Republican Representative Pat Fallon clashed during this session over the perceived politicization of the agency.
The discourse at the hearing underscored the broader concerns about Secret Service operations. Rowe was questioned about his actions at a 9/11 memorial event and his proximity to President Joe Biden, which led to a vehement exchange. Rowe defended his presence, emphasizing his commitment to the memories of 9/11.
"Congressman, what you’re not seeing is the [Special Agent in Charge] of the detail off out of the picture’s view, and that is the day where we remember the more than 3,000 people that died on 9/11. I responded to Ground Zero. I was there going through the ashes at the World Trade Center. I was there for rescues," Rowe stated, defending his position at the memorial event.
Rowe's remarks did little to assuage Rep. Fallon's concerns, who argued that invoking 9/11 should not be used for political leverage, leading to mutual accusations of politicizing the tragic event. The exchange escalated into a yelling match underscoring the contentious atmosphere surrounding the proceedings.
Staropoli emphasized that the historical strength of the Secret Service lay in its direct and effective ground operations, something he believes has been neglected in recent strategies that focus heavily on technological surveillance such as drones and UAVs.
He expressed doubt about the ability of the Secret Service under its current leadership and conditions to protect the President-elect effectively, fearing an escalation in the threats Trump faces.
"And 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," he warned.
As tensions continue to rise around security arrangements for the President-elect, Staropoli's warnings highlight the need for a serious reassessment of how the Secret Service operates in a politically charged and dangerous environment.
The recent Congressional hearing and public statements by a former operative of the agency have brought to light questions about whether the current practices are sufficient to prevent another potentially catastrophic security breach.