Written by John Mitchell.
Since the July 13th attack on former President Trump at a rally in Butler, PA, many have questioned why the Secret Service didn’t have a drone in the air, especially when the assailant did. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, during a joint Senate committee hearing, testified that the attack resulted from a “failure of imagination” within the Secret Service. This statement, however, leaves much to be desired.
In reality, there were numerous reasons why the Secret Service didn’t deploy a drone, and none of them are satisfactory. The official overseeing the event, whose identity remains undisclosed, decided against using one. Additionally, the notion of simply purchasing a drone from a store like Costco or Walmart never crossed anyone’s mind in the days leading up to the attempt on Trump’s life.
Connectivity issues further complicated matters. Due to heavy cell phone use at the site, the Secret Service had no reliable way to operate a drone or maintain communications. This, too, reflects a significant lack of foresight. The worst part? Local law enforcement had offered to manage a drone for the Secret Service, but the offer was declined.
Senate Hearing Revelations
During the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees’ joint hearing, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley pressed Rowe on these issues.
Hawley questioned whether someone was supposed to be posted on the roof of the ARG building. Rowe admitted he wasn’t sure, which prompted Hawley to criticize the lack of basic factual knowledge. “Whistleblowers are telling us more than you are, and you haven’t ascertained if there was supposed to be law enforcement on the roof! That seems to be a very basic fact,” Hawley remarked.
Hawley’s frustration grew when the topic of drones arose. He pointed out that local law enforcement had offered drones, but the Secret Service declined. Rowe’s response was a mixture of evasiveness and reluctant admission. “There was an offer to fly a drone that day,” he confirmed, but the Secret Service didn’t accept it, reflecting another glaring oversight.
Evasion and Accountability
Rowe’s testimony was marked by evasive answers and a lack of accountability. Despite Hawley’s persistent questioning, Rowe could not provide clear reasons for the decisions made by the Secret Service. This evasion has led to speculation about either gross incompetence or deliberate obfuscation to confuse senators like Lindsey Graham, who questioned whether more funding was needed.
Hawley accused Rowe of failing to be transparent, a charge Rowe attempted to deflect. However, the fact remains that no one has been held accountable for these failures, and the reasons behind the refusal to use drones remain unclear.
This level of ineptitude or potential cover-up within the Secret Service is concerning. With such critical security lapses, it’s hard not to wonder if the agency is capable of protecting high-profile figures like former President Trump effectively.
Our Take
The failure of the Secret Service to deploy a drone during the attempted attack on former President Trump is deeply troubling. This incident highlights a significant lack of foresight and preparedness within the agency. The refusal to utilize available resources, such as drones offered by local law enforcement, suggests either gross incompetence or a disturbing level of bureaucratic red tape.
For the public, this raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of our nation’s security apparatus. If the Secret Service, tasked with protecting the highest office in the land, can fail so spectacularly, what does that say about the safety of ordinary citizens? It’s imperative that Congress thoroughly investigates this matter and ensures that such lapses do not occur again. The safety of our leaders and the trust of the American people depend on it.
