Trump calls for protection of military planes amid alleged threat from Iran

Following two assassination attempts and an ongoing threat from Iran, Donald Trump’s campaign has increased security requests, including transport by military aircraft and additional security measures on the ground at the former US president’s campaign events, three sources familiar with the matter said. with discussions on CNN .

The Trump campaign wants to use these resources — including access to military aircraft with systems to protect against surface-to-air missiles — as the former US president crisscrosses the country during the final weeks of the presidential campaign.

President Joe Biden, when asked about Trump’s requests this Friday (11), said they should be met — “as long as he doesn’t ask for F-15s.”

“I told the department to give him everything he needs, as if he were a sitting president,” Biden said.

Susie Wiles, Trump’s co-campaign manager, initially made the request for enhanced measures during a call about two weeks ago with Biden chief of staff Jeff Zients, two sources familiar with the conversation told CNN .

Wiles then made the formal request for additional security with Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe on Sept. 30, according to an email reviewed by CNN .

The Trump campaign’s requests also include access to Camp David vehicles for Trump’s primary motorcade, as well as access to other military assets such as drones with thermal monitoring.

Additionally, the Trump campaign asked the U.S. Secret Service to increase stockpiles of ballistic glass in several swing states that the agency now uses to surround Trump at his outdoor rallies.

The campaign called for more funding for local law enforcement agencies to augment the president’s security detail and for additional administrative support from Secret Service headquarters.

The Secret Service is now working on formal requests for these resources that will go first to the Department of Homeland Security and then to the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as any other agencies that need to be involved, according to a federal law enforcement official.

Two sources close to the campaign said Trump officials are frustrated that extra protections have not been implemented due to the greater security threats facing the former president, and the campaign has begun implementing some new security measures.

According to one of the sources, Trump has begun changing his routine, taking different planes to events around the country and staying at different properties than he normally would as the 2024 presidential election approaches.

The source said Trump’s security team implemented the changes because it lost trust in the Secret Service following the former president’s two assassination attempts, as well as its denial of certain resources in the past.

But Trump’s team has also been told that some of the requests are not viable for any presidential candidate. Trump has privately complained that he is forced to hold smaller rallies because of security concerns, although all presidents and presidential candidates have faced restrictions on their freedom of movement because of security concerns, according to two sources familiar with the matter. subject.

Security features are also often determined on a case-by-case basis, a government official said.

The Secret Service says “the former president is receiving the highest levels of protection,” agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement Friday.

“The Secret Service will remain vigilant and continue to adjust and enhance its protective posture as necessary to mitigate evolving threats,” he added.

Guglielmi said the agency is already imposing flight restrictions on Trump’s residence and when he travels. He also stated that the former president “is receiving the highest level of technical security assets, which include unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned aerial countersurveillance systems, ballistics and other advanced technology systems.”

Obstacles in resource requests

Still, requesting additional resources may encounter obstacles. Some of them could face legal problems given constitutional limits on military operations within the United States, the federal security official said.

The Secret Service has implemented a series of changes since Trump was nearly killed by a sniper in July and after another sniper allegedly set up what prosecutors called a “sniper’s nest” outside Trump’s Florida golf course in September, when the former president was playing just one hole away.

Separately, U.S. officials obtained intelligence showing there is an assassination threat from Iran against Trump.

The Secret Service has increased its presence around Trump, adding members to its team and taking extra precautions, often traveling with a counter strike team. Secret Service agents previously assigned to desk jobs or other posts were also moved into rotation to protect Trump.

Following Trump’s near-assassination in Pennsylvania in July, the campaign also requested that it be allowed to have an observer at command centers with local, state and federal officials during campaign events, a source familiar with the request told CNN . This person would have access to police communications and have a direct line of contact with senior campaign officials.

Other US presidents and presidential candidates have been shot

This content was originally published in Trump calls for protection of military planes amid alleged threat from Iran on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil

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