Trump seeks military aircraft and enhanced security due to safety concerns
Biden promises to provide “every single thing he needs.”
TroibNews 
Donald Trump's campaign is urging the government to enhance security for the candidate as he encounters unprecedented threats while aiming to reclaim leadership in a deeply divided nation.
The campaign is seeking military aircraft for Trump along with increased Secret Service protection following two alleged assassination attempts and recent intelligence indicating that Iran has marked him for retaliation due to the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the White House responded promptly. President Joe Biden announced on Friday that he had instructed the Department of Homeland Security—overseeing the Secret Service—to fulfill these requests.
“I’ve told the department to give him every single thing he needs,” Biden said.
As a former president, Trump faces unique security challenges, leading his campaign to modify its operations in response to the risks associated with his public appearances.
Recently, Trump's campaign had to move an event in Milwaukee to a smaller venue due to security concerns at the original site. Adjustments included redirecting his motorcade, and there have been instances where he did not use his personal plane, according to an individual familiar with the situation.
The former president is now requesting military assistance for his protection. Rep. Mike Waltz made this request in a letter addressed to the Secret Service, the White House, and the Department of Defense, as disclosed by a source with knowledge of the matter who wished to remain anonymous.
Furthermore, Susie Wiles, co-campaign manager for Trump, has been in communication with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. regarding strengthening security for Trump and his campaign.
Wiles recently reached out to Zients via phone to request military support, believing the Secret Service required additional backup, according to two sources familiar with the conversation. Zients assured her that Trump would receive all necessary assistance.
Zients then connected Wiles with leadership from the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service, emphasizing that Biden had directed the Secret Service to provide the highest level of protection for Trump, according to officials.
These requests follow intelligence briefings on threats posed by Iran.
The campaign is advocating for various security measures, including increased funding for local law enforcement, access to federal resources, reimbursement for local law enforcement by the Secret Service, temporary airspace restrictions, and access to high-security limousines similar to those used by the president.
Trump's demand for enhanced protection underscores the mounting pressures that security concerns are imposing on his campaign.
The campaign has not provided an on-the-record comment regarding these issues.
Now, Trump necessitates bulletproof glass as protection while he delivers speeches at rallies. However, these heavy structures, designed to withstand high-speed rounds, have not always been readily available to him, as noted by multiple sources who were given anonymity to discuss security matters.
Recent last-minute venue changes have imposed additional costs on the campaign. When the campaign plane is diverted, it necessitates organizing a new motorcade and revising security arrangements. This intricate advance planning, required to ensure Trump and his team's safety, hampers the campaign's ability to adapt quickly, especially at this stage when campaigns typically shift schedules based on real-time data and polling trends. Additionally, Trump's security concerns have limited his pursuit of golf, a favored pastime on weekends.
“President Biden has directed the Secret Service to provide the highest level of protection for former President Trump,” stated White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt.
In response to an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July, and the threats from Iran, the Secret Service increased security for Trump. Despite having a significant security detail, Trump lacks access to a military aircraft and the same protective measures granted to sitting presidents or vice presidents.
The National Security Council's spokesperson, Sean Savett, indicated that the U.S. has been monitoring Iranian threats against Trump for several years, stemming from the killing of Soleimani, who orchestrated Iran's military strategies in the region.
“These threats arise from Iran’s desire to seek revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani. We consider this a national and homeland security matter of the highest priority, and we strongly condemn Iran for these brazen threats,” Savett remarked. “Should Iran attack any of our citizens, including those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences.”
According to a senior administration official, Biden has communicated warnings “to the highest levels” of the Iranian government to halt plots against Trump and former U.S. officials. Notable former officials targeted by Iran include former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Trump administration Iran envoy Brian Hook. Both Pompeo and Hook currently receive government security due to threats against them. It has been communicated to Iran that any attempt on Trump's life would be regarded as an act of war.
The communication from Waltz and the discussions between Wiles, Rowe, and Zients were first reported by The New York Times.
In addition to the Secret Service, the campaign previously engaged the Colorado Security Agency for event security, though there have been no payments to that firm since January, based on campaign finance records. Nevertheless, the campaign has expended over $591,000 on Event Strategies Inc., a firm that lists “security” in its service description.
For Trump's recent return to the Butler, Pennsylvania, farm show grounds, where he was shot in July, security was significantly heightened. Access roads were blocked off in advance, bomb-sniffing dogs inspected parked vehicles, snipers were positioned on surrounding rooftops, and the building from which the shooter fired was obscured from view by large trucks.
“If I were the president, I would inform the threatening country — in this case Iran — that if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens. We’re going to blow it to smithereens. You can’t do that. And there would be no more threats,” Trump expressed at a campaign event in North Carolina. “But right now we don’t have that leadership or the necessary people, the necessary leaders.”
John Sakellaridis, Jessica Piper, and Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
The campaign is seeking military aircraft for Trump along with increased Secret Service protection following two alleged assassination attempts and recent intelligence indicating that Iran has marked him for retaliation due to the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the White House responded promptly. President Joe Biden announced on Friday that he had instructed the Department of Homeland Security—overseeing the Secret Service—to fulfill these requests.
“I’ve told the department to give him every single thing he needs,” Biden said.
As a former president, Trump faces unique security challenges, leading his campaign to modify its operations in response to the risks associated with his public appearances.
Recently, Trump's campaign had to move an event in Milwaukee to a smaller venue due to security concerns at the original site. Adjustments included redirecting his motorcade, and there have been instances where he did not use his personal plane, according to an individual familiar with the situation.
The former president is now requesting military assistance for his protection. Rep. Mike Waltz made this request in a letter addressed to the Secret Service, the White House, and the Department of Defense, as disclosed by a source with knowledge of the matter who wished to remain anonymous.
Furthermore, Susie Wiles, co-campaign manager for Trump, has been in communication with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. regarding strengthening security for Trump and his campaign.
Wiles recently reached out to Zients via phone to request military support, believing the Secret Service required additional backup, according to two sources familiar with the conversation. Zients assured her that Trump would receive all necessary assistance.
Zients then connected Wiles with leadership from the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service, emphasizing that Biden had directed the Secret Service to provide the highest level of protection for Trump, according to officials.
These requests follow intelligence briefings on threats posed by Iran.
The campaign is advocating for various security measures, including increased funding for local law enforcement, access to federal resources, reimbursement for local law enforcement by the Secret Service, temporary airspace restrictions, and access to high-security limousines similar to those used by the president.
Trump's demand for enhanced protection underscores the mounting pressures that security concerns are imposing on his campaign.
The campaign has not provided an on-the-record comment regarding these issues.
Now, Trump necessitates bulletproof glass as protection while he delivers speeches at rallies. However, these heavy structures, designed to withstand high-speed rounds, have not always been readily available to him, as noted by multiple sources who were given anonymity to discuss security matters.
Recent last-minute venue changes have imposed additional costs on the campaign. When the campaign plane is diverted, it necessitates organizing a new motorcade and revising security arrangements. This intricate advance planning, required to ensure Trump and his team's safety, hampers the campaign's ability to adapt quickly, especially at this stage when campaigns typically shift schedules based on real-time data and polling trends. Additionally, Trump's security concerns have limited his pursuit of golf, a favored pastime on weekends.
“President Biden has directed the Secret Service to provide the highest level of protection for former President Trump,” stated White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt.
In response to an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July, and the threats from Iran, the Secret Service increased security for Trump. Despite having a significant security detail, Trump lacks access to a military aircraft and the same protective measures granted to sitting presidents or vice presidents.
The National Security Council's spokesperson, Sean Savett, indicated that the U.S. has been monitoring Iranian threats against Trump for several years, stemming from the killing of Soleimani, who orchestrated Iran's military strategies in the region.
“These threats arise from Iran’s desire to seek revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani. We consider this a national and homeland security matter of the highest priority, and we strongly condemn Iran for these brazen threats,” Savett remarked. “Should Iran attack any of our citizens, including those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences.”
According to a senior administration official, Biden has communicated warnings “to the highest levels” of the Iranian government to halt plots against Trump and former U.S. officials. Notable former officials targeted by Iran include former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Trump administration Iran envoy Brian Hook. Both Pompeo and Hook currently receive government security due to threats against them. It has been communicated to Iran that any attempt on Trump's life would be regarded as an act of war.
The communication from Waltz and the discussions between Wiles, Rowe, and Zients were first reported by The New York Times.
In addition to the Secret Service, the campaign previously engaged the Colorado Security Agency for event security, though there have been no payments to that firm since January, based on campaign finance records. Nevertheless, the campaign has expended over $591,000 on Event Strategies Inc., a firm that lists “security” in its service description.
For Trump's recent return to the Butler, Pennsylvania, farm show grounds, where he was shot in July, security was significantly heightened. Access roads were blocked off in advance, bomb-sniffing dogs inspected parked vehicles, snipers were positioned on surrounding rooftops, and the building from which the shooter fired was obscured from view by large trucks.
“If I were the president, I would inform the threatening country — in this case Iran — that if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens. We’re going to blow it to smithereens. You can’t do that. And there would be no more threats,” Trump expressed at a campaign event in North Carolina. “But right now we don’t have that leadership or the necessary people, the necessary leaders.”
John Sakellaridis, Jessica Piper, and Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
