Secret Service Failures Detailed in Trump Rally Attack

A year after the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, investigations have revealed major Secret Service failures, including senior officials receiving classified threat information ten days prior but not sharing it with ground agents due to poor communication and lack of procedures. The GAO and other reports cited inadequate planning, insufficient training, and communication breakdowns that contributed to the breach, which resulted in one death, two injuries, and Trump being grazed by a bullet before the shooter was killed by a Secret Service sniper. Six agents were suspended, but victims' families, including the widow of Corey Comperatore who died shielding his daughter, criticized the response as insufficient and demanded greater accountability. The Secret Service Director resigned following the incident, and the agency has begun implementing operational reforms to address identified weaknesses. The attack has led to ongoing scrutiny and changes in federal security protocols. The event remains a significant turning point in U.S. political history.