The Trump campaign is actively seeking additional security measures from the Secret Service and the White House in the lead-up to the election, as threats from Iran persist. However, some of their requests have not yet been approved, according to The Post.
In the past month, Trump adviser Susie Wiles has sent letters to the White House to coordinate with the Secret Service for enhanced protection of the former president. While the Secret Service has approved some security measures, others remain unanswered.
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) has also requested that Trump be granted access to a military plane for transportation or additional security for his aircraft. The 78-year-old former president has faced two assassination attempts and has received briefings from intelligence regarding an active plot against him from Iran. The Secret Service has not responded to the request for a military plane.
President Biden addressed the military plane request on Friday, saying, “As long as he doesn’t ask for F-15s. No, I was being facetious. Look, I’ve told the department to give him every single thing he needs — as if he were a sitting president, give all that he needs. If it sits within that category, that’s fine. But if it doesn’t, he shouldn’t.”
The military plane request would mark a first for a former president during a campaign, highlighting the need for extensive security as a Secret Service agent indicated that the agency had been alerted to a “possible drone strike” by Iran on Trump as early as 2023.
Wiles expressed frustration in her letter that the campaign has had to conduct smaller events due to ongoing threats, deeming the current security measures inadequate, especially as efforts intensify in the month leading up to Election Day. Team Trump is also requesting more flight restrictions over rallies, ballistic glass in battleground states, and military vehicles.
Trump has referenced the two assassination attempts — one by Thomas Matthew Crooks in Butler, Pa., and another by Ryan Wesley Routh at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. — suggesting they may be linked to Iran, as both suspects had foreign-based apps on their phones.
“Big threats on my life by Iran. The entire U.S. Military is watching and waiting. Moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again. Not a good situation for anyone. I am surrounded by more men, guns, and weapons than I have ever seen before,” Trump posted on X on September 25. “Thank you to Congress for unanimously approving far more money to Secret Service – Zero ‘NO’ Votes, strictly bipartisan. Nice to see Republicans and Democrats get together on something. An attack on a former President is a Death Wish for the attacker!”
