Rep. Matt Gaetz exposed claims of five assassination teams plotting against former President Donald Trump, amid heightened security threats.
Just The News reported that Gaetz disclosed alarming information provided by a Homeland Security whistleblower, detailing a significant and direct threat to Donald Trump. According to Gaetz, five assassination teams are allegedly tasked with targeting the former President.
The revelation surfaced shortly before Trump endured a second assassination attempt at his Palm Beach golf course.
The whistleblower, a senior Department of Homeland Security official, conveyed to Gaetz that three of the assassination teams were instigated by foreign entities and two were domestically organized.
This briefing took place before the most recent assassination incident involving Trump, sparking serious concern about his security detail’s adequacy.
During Trump's weekend golfing at his Palm Beach course, an armed suspect concealed an AK-47 in the bushes, prompting a swift response from the Secret Service. The suspect managed to escape the immediate scene but was later apprehended by law enforcement.
The suspect involved in the Palm Beach incident was identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh. Routh has been charged with firearms violations about the failed assassination attempt.
This event underscored the severity and immediacy of the threats leveled against Trump, who appears to be a continuous target.
Earlier, on July 12, U.S. authorities arrested Asif Merchant for allegedly attempting to hire a gunman on behalf of Iran to assassinate Trump.
This arrest occurred the day before a previous assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pa. This series of events draws attention to a broader pattern of threats, predominantly inspired by Iran, aimed at U.S. figures over recent years.
Intelligence and law enforcement officials are aware of multiple plots targeting high-profile figures in the U.S. Due to these ongoing threats, enhanced protections have been implemented for former Presidents, Secretaries of State, and other dignitaries. Over the years, additional individuals have been arrested for their involvement in plans to assassinate other prominent figures, such as former President George W. Bush.
Senate and House members briefed on these assassination attempts knew about multiple plots but were not informed about the specifics regarding the five assassination teams as disclosed by Gaetz.
This lack of transparency has led to criticism, including from Gaetz himself, particularly regarding the allocation and prioritization of security resources.
Gaetz criticized the reallocation of security details that were initially guarding Trump to other figures with perceived lower threat levels, such as Jill Biden. He raised concerns about the sufficiency of security measures provided to Trump, especially when considering the escalating and evident threats against him.
In his public statements, Gaetz expressed dismay over the security reassessments: "And with that, this individual was coming to me, concerned that the force protection around President Trump, even before that second assassination attempt, was not sufficient for what it needed to be," Gaetz relayed from his conversation with the DHS official.
He emphasized the inadequacy of dignitary protection levels, calling for more robust security measures for presidential candidates and former presidents.
"Five teams that we know are targeting Trump," Gaetz stressed in a media interaction, shedding light on the gravity and complexity of the threats.
He further criticized the decisions to divert security resources: "And so that raises real questions about why certain teams were being pulled off of the Trump detail and put on, for example, the Jill Biden detail."
While Gaetz acknowledged the importance of security for all public figures, he highlighted a significant discrepancy in threat levels, which he believes has led to misallocated resources, potentially compromising Trump’s safety: "Now we don't want anything bad to happen to Jill Biden, but at the same time, the threat envelope for her was substantially different than the threat envelope around President Trump."
The ongoing discussions and investigations into the severity and motivations behind these threats continue to roil the political landscape, insisting on necessary precautions and serious contemplations on the adequate provision of security to those under direct threat, like Trump.