Trump assassination attempt: Joe Biden orders security boost as Donald Trump defies shooter
President Joe Biden announced increased security for the Republican National Convention as Donald Trump declared he ‘cannot allow a shooter’ to force a delay.
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President Joe Biden announced increased security for the former president and the Republican National Convention after a defiant Donald Trump declared he could not allow a “shooter, or potential assassin” to force his hand.
It comes as Trump’s co-campaign managers outlined the next steps in a memo encouraging staffers in Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach, Florida, to avoid going into those offices until both locations are assessed.
“We are enhancing the armed security presence with 24/7 officers on-site. Additional security assessments will be in place,” they added in the memo, obtained by Axios.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump revealed that he had almost changed his schedule to travel to the convention at 3.30 pm, local time. (5.30am AEST).
“Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a “shooter,” or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else. Therefore, I will be leaving for Milwaukee, as scheduled.
Mr Biden, meanwhile, announced a review of the security of the Republican National Convention, and added that Mr Trump’s campaign would be provided with all necessary security resources to ensure the former president’s safety.
Speaking from the Roosevelt Room at the White House after an intelligence briefing, Mr Biden added that he ordered an independent review of national security at rally to assess “exactly what happened”.
“Mr Trump as a former president and nominee of the Republican Party already receives a heightened level of security,” Mr Biden said.
“And I’ve been consistent in my direction to the Secret Service to provide him with every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety.”
SECRET SERVICES SCRAMBLES AHEAD OF RNC
Security services are frantically reviewing how to keep Donald Trump and other high-profile attendees safe at the upcoming Republican National Convention, following the assassination attempt on the former president.
With Mr Trump confirming his attendance shortly after a bullet “pierced” his ear, federal, state and local law enforcement officials are on high alert ahead of the event on Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Following the shooting, a joint threat assessment created by the FBI, US Secret Service, the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee Southeastern Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center was sent out to law enforcement officials, calling for heightened awareness.
More than 50,000 politicians, delegates and members of the media will descend on Milwaukee, where Mr Trump is expected to be formally crowned party nominee.
While members of the public are not allowed to attend the convention, spread across multiple venues, thousands of anti-Trump protesters plan to march nearby, creating a tinder box environment.
A day before the shooting in Pennsylvania, NBC News reported that local police were already under pressure, recruiting officers from more than 100 outside state and local departments to reinforce its ranks.
The Secret Service oversees all security operations in the immediate area around political rallies and conventions. The Democratic convention in Chicago is scheduled to run from August 19 to August 22.
Prior to this week’s Republican convention the Coalition to March on the RNC, which incorporates 125 left-leaning groups protesting the “racist and reactionary agenda of the Republican Party,” sued the city of Milwaukee over rights to protest.
Demonstrators wanted to be able to protest near the Fiserv Forum, which is one of the main venues.
Since then a map of where demonstrators are allowed has been released.
Omar Flores, organiser of the Coalition to March on the RNC, told NBC News after the court ruling that the coalition will lead a “family friendly” protest and abide by the hard perimeter protected by the Secret Service.
He said they had filed for a permit because they wanted to guarantee 5000 demonstrators will be allowed to march unimpeded by police.
“We’re just looking to host a family friendly protest, like we have from the start,” Ms Flores told NBC News. “And there’s really no reason to believe that anything else will happen unless the cops have something else in mind.”
However, that could all change now following the shooting in Pennsylvania, with Trump fans potentially attending the location in support of the former president, and clashing with demonstrators.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers responded to security concerns following the shooting, saying he had been in contact with those organising security at the event.
“My staff and I are in contact with those co-ordinating security planning for the RNC and will continue to be in close communication as we learn more about this situation,” Mr Evers said in a post on X/Twitter.
It comes as serious questions are already being asked about how someone was able to shoot at the former president from outside the rally boundary.
Florida Senator Rick Scott said the Director of the Secret Service “needs to come out ASAP and let us know how this happened and how everyone at the RNC and DNC conventions will be safe,” he posted.
Lt Colonel George Bivens, from Pennsylvania State Police told a press conference he did know not how the assassination attempt would impact future campaign rallies and that law enforcement would be led by the Secret Service.
He said it wasn’t up to law enforcement to tell anyone when and where to hold a rally.
He said going forward he expected local authorities to work “hand-in-hand with the Secret Service” and offer their best advice on how to protect everyone.
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