Former President Donald Trump was under “presidential-level” protection when officers thwarted an assassination attempt on his life last weekend, according to a briefing the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) provided to lawmakers on Wednesday. The briefing was part of the ongoing investigation into the July 13 shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The House task force, which is currently investigating the shooting and a more recent incident at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, received the update from USSS officials. They confirmed that Trump was receiving nearly all the same security measures afforded to President Joe Biden at the time of the second attempt, which took place just days after the July incident where Trump sustained injuries and one attendee was killed.
Lawmakers Express Confidence in Trump’s Security Measures
“He had the same coverage as a sitting president as he had last Sunday. And we’re talking mainly today with Secret Service,” task force Chairman Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., explained after the briefing. Kelly expressed confidence in the level of security provided to Trump following the assassination attempts.
Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., the top Democrat on the panel, reinforced this sentiment, stating: “It’s our understanding that after July 13 that President Biden ordered the Secret Service to provide the same level of security to both Vice President [Kamala] Harris and to former President Trump that would be a presidential level security, commensurate with what the president would receive, and that that security is being provided.”
Trump’s Protection Mirrors Presidential Standards
A spokesperson for the House task force confirmed to Fox News Digital that Trump is receiving protection “commensurate” with President Biden’s.
“There are a handful of specialized assets only the commander and chief gets, but the rest of his protection is at the same level,” the spokesperson explained.
The briefing revealed that many of the security assets in place for Trump when he was a sitting president were also deployed in West Palm Beach during the recent incident. “His level of protection on Sunday was essentially the same as it was when he was the sitting President,” the spokesperson added.
Assassination Attempts Heighten Security Concerns
This latest security update comes after USSS arrested 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who was found armed with an AK-47 near where Trump was golfing at his West Palm Beach course on Sunday. Routh was reportedly lying in wait for Trump in the bushes by the sixth hole of the course.
The July 13 shooting at a Trump rally has already intensified scrutiny on the U.S. Secret Service, sparking conversations about the safety of public officials in today’s politically charged environment. Both the right and left have condemned political violence following the incidents.
Task Force Investigates Political Violence
The bipartisan House task force, initially formed to investigate the July 13 shooting, has now expanded its scope to include the West Palm Beach incident. “I came away today feeling that the Secret Service on this past Sunday was treating it the same way as when President Trump was a sitting president,” Kelly told reporters.
The panel is also seeking a briefing from the FBI on the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s arrest of Routh. As the investigation continues, pressure is mounting on the U.S. Secret Service to ensure that security protocols are up to par for high-profile political figures in an increasingly divided political climate.
