Butler officials are concerned about future Trump rally
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Rep. James Comer during a House Oversight Committee hearing. Photo: Chris Kleponis / AFP
Local officials are worried about former President Trump's plans to return to Butler in October, reports Spotlight PA, ProPublica and the Butler Eagle.
Why it matters: Last month's assassination attempt at an outdoor rally in the rural western Pennsylvania city has been panned as one of the most glaring security lapses in decades, leading to former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle's resignation and numerous federal and congressional probes.
Driving the news: Trump said in an interview with billionaire Elon Musk on X earlier this month that he intends to come back to Butler to finish his speech.
- Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche shared concerns about how the visit "will place additional stress on law enforcement and the community."
- Local officials are calling for better coordination with the Secret Service should Trump return, including a unified command post, Adams Township Sgt. Ed Lenz told the outlets.
The big picture: Trump has increasingly held outdoor rallies since his presidency ended, complicating security for the Secret Service at his campaign stops, per the outlets' new investigation.
- After the assassination attempt, the agency urged Trump's campaign to not hold large outdoor rallies in some instances.
- The agency last week approved a new security plan to better shield Trump at outdoor events, which includes using bulletproof glass to protect him onstage, the Washington Post reports.
By the numbers: The Secret Secret has limited staffing, with a total of about 4,500 agents and uniformed officers dedicated to protecting more than 30 people, per the report.
- The agency relies on local law enforcement for help at events like the one in Butler.
What they're saying: The threat level "goes through the roof" at outdoor events, a former Secret Service officer told the outlets, partly because outdoor events are often built from scratch.
- That requires law enforcement to worry about guarding rooftops and accounting for possible shooters' sightlines.
The intrigue: Trump has held more rallies in Pennsylvania than any other state since 2016.
What's ahead: The first presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will be held in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center on Sept. 10.