The Secret Service “acted so quickly and so decisively” to thwart an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, but they need more manpower, House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday.
Mr. Johnson visited with Mr. Trump at his nearby Mar-a-Lago resort for three hours Sunday after what the FBI has said is an apparent second assassination attempt on the Republican presidential nominee’s life.
The Louisiana Republican complimented the Secret Service’s response when agents saw the barrel of a gun in between bushes at the golf course where Mr. Trump was playing, but he said they need more manpower to protect the former president.
“President Trump needs the most coverage of anyone. He’s the most attacked, he’s the most threatened — even probably more than when he was in the Oval Office,” Mr. Johnson said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”
“So, we are demanding in the House that he have every asset available. And we will make more available if necessary,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a funding issue. I think it’s a manpower allocation.”
Mr. Johnson’s comments were made shortly before President Biden called on Congress to consider providing the Secret Service with more resources.
“The Service needs more help. And I think Congress should respond to their need,” Mr. Biden told reporters as he departed the White House for Philadelphia Monday morning.
Last month, the White House requested Congress provide extra money for the Secret Service in any stopgap funding measure passed this month to ensure it has enough resources to provide security through the election for both party’s tickets.
The Secret Service has an annual budget of more than $3 billion, and most House Republicans believe the agency should be able to work with that to provide the required protection. But senators in both parties have appeared more open to a budget boost.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe briefed Mr. Johnson and Mr. Trump while they were together at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday on how his agents spotted the barrel of a gun in the bushes and acted.
“That’s a difficult thing to spot. Thankfully, they did. But unlike in Butler, they did not pause,” Mr. Johnson said, referring to the July 13 attempted assassination of Mr. Trump in Pennsylvania. “They immediately pulled their weapons and fired. I think that’s why this guy, the suspect, the shooter, threw the gun in the bushes and ran.”
Ryan Routh, the alleged gunman, fled in a vehicle but was quickly stopped by authorities and taken into custody. Law enforcement found two backpacks, a rifle and a GoPro on the fence outside of the Trump International Golf Club, where the former president was playing.
Mr. Johnson and his wife Kelly were already on their way to Mar-a-Lago to visit Mr. Trump before the incident occurred. The speaker said the former president “was in very good spirits” and complimented his resiliency.
“There’s no leader in the history of America that has been so attacked and has remained so strong and so resilient. He’s one of a kind,” Mr. Johnson said. “He is not going to stop fighting for the American people. And it was really encouraging for us to sit and visit with him right after that happened.”
Mr. Johnson said the bipartisan House task force investigating the first assassination attempt on Mr. Trump from July was already planning to hold a hearing later this month and issue an interim report. He expects those both to happen next week.
The chairman and ranking member of the task force, Reps. Mike Kelly, Pennsylvania Republican and Jason Crow, Colorado Democrat, issued a statement Sunday saying they requested a briefing with the Secret Service on the second assassination attempt and will share updates as they learn more.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has been conducting its own investigation on the first assassination attempt and is planning to release a report soon as well.
“Congress will act swiftly. We need accountability. We must demand that this job is being done,” Mr. Johnson said. “I think there are some, some really patriotic, great people working in the Secret Service, but it’s the leadership. We have no faith — I have no faith — in Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security. He’s an abject failure.”
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.