Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has raised concerns regarding the Secret Service's handling of an alleged second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Appearing on Fox News Channel's "Jesse Watters Primetime" on Wednesday, Hawley revealed that whistleblowers have come forward, claiming that Secret Service agents failed to follow standard protocols while protecting Trump at a golf course.
Breitbart reported that Hawley has called for answers after receiving whistleblower reports that Secret Service agents did not secure known vulnerabilities at the golf course during the former president’s recent visit.
According to Hawley, the whistleblowers allege that the Secret Service did not station agents at critical points of vulnerability on the course, where the former president has often played in the past.
This lack of security coverage has raised concerns, as the Service is said to be familiar with the course and has previously guarded it without issue. Hawley’s office has taken these claims seriously, expressing alarm at what appears to be an unusual deviation from standard procedure.
During his interview with Jesse Watters, Hawley elaborated on the whistleblower reports. He explained that the whistleblowers are suggesting that Secret Service agents failed to secure the areas of the golf course that are known to be vulnerabilities. According to Hawley, this is an established protocol that should have been followed.
“What the whistleblower says is protocol calls for Secret Service to station agents along the places in the course that are known vulnerabilities,” Hawley told Watters. The fact that agents reportedly did not follow this protocol has raised alarms for the senator.
In addition to the concerns about the vulnerabilities, the whistleblowers also suggested that there may have been a failure to conduct a perimeter sweep of the golf course before Trump’s arrival. This is another standard security measure that Hawley says should have been completed but may have been neglected.
Hawley emphasized that the Secret Service had provided protection at this same golf course many times before, making the reported deviation from protocol even more puzzling. He noted that the agents should have been well aware of the locations that needed extra security attention, yet the whistleblower claims suggest these areas were left unsecured.
“I want to emphasize, the Service has guarded this course many times,” Hawley said. “They know where there are vulnerabilities. They normally station agents there ahead of Trump’s appearance on the course, but they apparently did not do that this last weekend.”
The Missouri senator went on to state that the failure to conduct the perimeter sweep and secure known vulnerabilities represents a potential breach of security protocol. “It’s not even clear the Secret Service swept the perimeter before Trump took to the course,” Hawley added, expressing his frustration with the lack of clarity surrounding the incident.
Hawley did not mince words when discussing the need for accountability from the Secret Service. He made it clear that the agency should be providing answers to the public and explaining why these apparent lapses in security occurred.
The senator pointed out that the whistleblowers were not just voicing vague concerns but were offering specific information about how the Secret Service deviated from its standard operating procedures.
The failure to follow protocol has raised questions not only about the security of Trump but also about the overall reliability of the Secret Service in handling high-profile protective duties. Hawley underscored that he would be seeking further clarification from the agency and pressing for a full investigation into the reported lapses.
The allegations from whistleblowers come after an earlier incident in which Trump was reportedly the target of an assassination attempt. While details of the first attempt remain limited, the reported second breach is only adding to concerns about whether the former president is being adequately protected.
Hawley’s remarks on Wednesday were aimed at highlighting the seriousness of the situation and the importance of addressing any potential security failures immediately. Trump’s continued presence in the political arena and his 2024 presidential bid make his safety a priority for his supporters, and Hawley’s revelations will likely fuel further scrutiny of the Secret Service.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Secret Service will respond to these allegations. For now, Hawley is determined to keep pushing for answers and ensure that the agency addresses the concerns raised by the whistleblowers.
