The Trump campaign has reportedly requested military aircraft and ramped-up security measures for former President Donald Trump in the final weeks before the November 5 presidential election.
On Friday, The New York Times reported requests came after Trump’s campaign advisers received briefings during which the government said Iran is continuing to plot to kill the former president actively.
Trump’s advisers have grown increasingly concerned about missiles and drones, added the outlet.
According to the Washington Post, the Trump campaign has also requested expanded flight restrictions over Trump’s rallies and residences, military vehicles to transport the former president, and ballistic glass pre-positioned in seven battleground states for use by the campaign. In the past four months, Trump has been the victim of two assassination attempts.
The Post reported that Susie Wiles, campaign manager, emailed acting Director of the Secret Service Ronald L. Rowe Jr. to express displeasure with the agency and say it has been unable to provide enough security to protect Donald Trump.
Wiles reportedly said the campaign recently had to cancel a public event at the last minute because of the Secret Service’s “lack of personnel.” Instead, Trump was put in a small room filled with reporters.
Additionally, she said planning for future events is being hampered by the lack of protection.
The Post reported that GOP Representative Michael Waltz of Florida also wrote a letter to the Secret Service asking for additional protection or military aircraft for Trump’s private plane.
Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service spokesman, said in a statement that Donald Trump is receiving “the highest levels of protection.”
Rowe wrote to the campaign and said the Biden-Harris administration assesses what can be provided.
“Assistance from the Department of Defense is regularly provided for the former president’s protection, to include explosive ordnance disposal, canine units, and airlift transportation,” said Guglielmi reported the Post.
Secret Service is imposing additional temporary flight restrictions
The Secret Service also imposes temporary flight restrictions “over the former president’s residence and when he travels,” added Guglielmi. “Additionally, the former president is receiving the highest level of technical security assets, which include unmanned aerial vehicles, counter unmanned aerial surveillance systems, ballistics, and other advanced technology systems.”
The Secret Service has been under intense scrutiny over its failures in the shooting that grazed the former president’s ear at a July Butler, Pennsylvania, rally.
The Post reported that Trump’s campaign has started traveling with additional aircraft, putting him in nondescript planes without his name on the side — like his 757 jet.
Officials are additionally taking precautions by dividing Trump’s motorcade on occasion.
