Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has voiced serious concerns about the security of former President Donald Trump, urging Trump to hire a personal "head of security" to oversee his Secret Service detail. This recommendation comes in the wake of a second alleged assassination attempt on Trump, which occurred at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024. Johnson, a staunch Trump ally, made these remarks during an interview with Just the News, pointing to what he sees as glaring deficiencies in the Secret Service's current protection efforts.
The suspect in the latest attempt, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, was apprehended by local authorities after Secret Service agents detected him lurking 300-500 yards from Trump. Routh, a felon in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, has been charged with federal gun violations. Thankfully, he did not get a chance to fire a weapon, as agents intervened just in time. This incident follows a previous attempt on Trump’s life during a July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was fatally shot by law enforcement.
The Secret Service’s budget has increased 65% over the past decade. They don’t lack resources, they simply lack good management.
They continue to slow-walk complying with congressional oversight requests for key documents and witnesses. pic.twitter.com/RJ0JO8JNYJ
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) September 19, 2024
Johnson emphasized that luck should not be the determining factor in Trump’s safety. He advocated for enhanced surveillance measures at venues where Trump appears, including the use of cameras and patrols well before the former president's arrival. “We shouldn’t have to rely on the sharp eyes of one Secret Service agent,” Johnson said, arguing for more comprehensive precautions to prevent further security breaches.
The senator further expressed distrust in federal agencies, especially regarding the transparency of their investigations. He criticized the FBI and Secret Service for dragging their feet in the ongoing probes into these assassination attempts. Johnson has also raised concerns about the well-being of Routh, fearing a situation similar to the suspicious death of Jeffrey Epstein. “We need to keep this guy alive so that he can provide testimony in terms of what his motivation is, was, what his connections are,” Johnson remarked.
Whenever Ron Johnson retires, Scott Walker should run for the open Wisconsin Senate seat. pic.twitter.com/ju77eGY0is
— Moderate Republican (@YoungGunRepub) September 16, 2024
This second attempt has reignited scrutiny of the Secret Service's ability to protect Trump, who remains a highly polarizing figure as he campaigns for the 2024 GOP nomination. Critics have questioned whether the agency is providing enough resources, as previous requests for more security by Trump’s team have allegedly been denied)
. Despite the recent increase in threats against Trump, some lawmakers remain skeptical about allocating additional funding for his security, with budgetary issues adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Trump himself has not yet publicly commented on Johnson's call for a private security overseer, but his campaign team has been vocal about the heightened risks their candidate faces. With two assassination attempts in just a few months, the former president’s safety is quickly becoming a hot-button issue for both his supporters and critics.
As investigations continue into these incidents, Johnson and other Republicans are pushing for swift action. Meanwhile, House Republicans are conducting their own independent inquiry into the security failures surrounding Trump. This includes a scheduled forum featuring security experts like former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino and former Navy SEAL Erik Prince, aimed at assessing whether further steps are needed to safeguard Trump on the campaign trail..
