In a shocking security lapse, a "semi-automatic Glock handgun" reportedly slipped through a checkpoint at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, last week, according to RedState.
This unsettling incident occurred just days before the commencement of the trial of Ryan Wesley Routh, who stands accused of a second assassination attempt on President Trump. Routh had previously positioned himself with a rifle near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, lying in wait for the then-presidential candidate for several hours almost exactly a year ago.
This recent security breach was brought to light by RealClearPolitics political correspondent Susan Crabtree, who was reporting on another disconcerting incident. In this separate event, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters managed to track down the President during his visit to a D.C. restaurant, coming alarmingly close while shouting at him and his entourage.
Crabtree's report revealed that "a club member was able to get a semi-automatic Glock handgun through security checkpoints and into the club" in Sterling. However, her sources assured that the weapon posed no threat to the president.
Despite the assurance, the fact that the weapon was overlooked, "even though a USSS Uniformed Division officer had screened the bag by hand and wanded the man carrying it," raises serious concerns about the efficacy of the Secret Service's protective measures. This incident further intensifies the ongoing scrutiny of the Secret Service, particularly in light of this week's trial focusing on how Routh managed to evade detection while lying in wait with a rifle for hours.
According to a timeline established by ABC News, Routh had been in his shooting position since the early hours of September 15th, 2024. President Trump arrived at the golf course around 11 a.m. and had been on the links for two hours before the Secret Service located Routh via a sweep and apprehended him.
At the time, Trump was making his way down the fifth fairway, while Routh was staked out near the sixth green. He was a mere 20 minutes away from potentially plunging the United States into chaos.
Given this close call, one would expect the USSS to have tightened their security measures, particularly in terms of sweeps and weapons checks. However, this does not appear to be the case. The club member who inadvertently brought the gun was reportedly astounded that agents had missed it.
He took it upon himself to inform the Secret Service of their oversight and questioned how they could have failed to find the weapon.
The incident sparked outrage among other club members, who were appalled at the potential vulnerability of President Trump had the person with the Glock harbored malicious intentions. They questioned the Secret Service's ability to ensure no other weapons had slipped through that day.
In response to the incident, the agency has launched an investigation and placed the officer who screened the individual with the weapon on administrative leave.
Adding to the concerns, President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were confronted at a restaurant earlier this week, creating a tense scene. Protestors chanting Free DC and Free Palestine were able to approach the President as he made his way to his table.
This incident raises further questions about the Secret Service's ability to protect the President, who has already faced two significant assassination attempts, along with countless other threats.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to RealClearPolitics that an investigation is underway to determine "exactly how the gun made it onto the property. Despite these security lapses, she reaffirmed President Trump's unwavering trust in the Secret Service. As for the President, in the past he has said he trusts USSS and the job they do to protect him, Leavitt stated.
Earlier in Trump's term, he nominated Sean Curran as his Secret Service director, the man who had shielded him after the would-be assassin in Butler missed killing him by mere millimeters. Several agents were suspended without pay in July in connection with their response to the attempted assassination in Butler.
RedState Editor Bob Hoge, in his coverage of the Routh trial, noted that "changes have been made at the Secret Service," but emphasized the need for improved performance to avoid future tragedies.
The recent incidents of raging protesters confronting the president during a restaurant visit and a gun making its way onto one of his golf courses underscore the urgency of this need.
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