President Donald Trump’s Secret Service was silently beefed up after Charlie Kirk‘s assassination, reviving safety fears for the president and his allies.
Amid the shock of the death of Kirk, Trump’s close ally and friend, the president and his allies’ security details and precautionary measures were expanded, a senior White House official told the Wall Street Journal. A 9/11 commemoration ceremony at the Defense Department, where Trump delivered a speech, was moved to a more secure location, they said, while the law enforcement presence at the Thursday Yankees game was expanded.
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The official said Trump’s team is having wider discussions regarding how to increase security for the president.
When contacted for comment, the Secret Service wouldn’t confirm or deny the reports. Close calls regarding security have caused concern about Trump’s protection. One person was let into Trump’s Virginia golf course with a handgun while the president was on the premises. And during a trip to Joe’s Seafood in Washington, D.C., protesters were able to get within feet of the president.
“The safety and security of our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service’s top priority. President Trump receives the highest levels of U.S. Secret Service protection and the agency adjusts our protective posture as needed to mitigate evolving threats. Out of concern for operational security, we cannot discuss the specific means and methods used for our protective operations,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said.
When contacted for comment, the White House directed the Washington Examiner to Trump’s remarks on Thursday when reporters asked if he was concerned about his own safety.
“Not really,” Trump said. “I’m really concerned for our country. We have a great country. We have a radical left group of lunatics out there, just absolute lunatics, and we’re going to get that problem solved. I’m only concerned for the country.”
Kirk was known for giving many in Trump’s MAGA movement their start, making his loss feel personal to many. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles held an emotional meeting with staff on Wednesday after the assassination, telling members to go home and hug their families, the Wall Street Journal reported. She urged staff not to lose faith and not to let the violence deter them.
Wiles drew parallels between the experience on Wednesday and that of last year’s Butler assassination attempt against Trump and 9/11 in a Thursday interview on the Scott Jennings Show.
GLOBAL RIGHT-WING LEADERS PAY TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE KIRK
“I think it shook everybody to their core, and for many of us, brought back the memories of last July 13 in Butler with the president, and then today is 9/11, so sort of a one-two punch,” Wiles said.