Hailey
The attempted assassination of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, marked a profound failure in presidential protection—one that resulted in the death of an attendee, injuries to two others, and a bullet grazing the former president’s ear.
The shooter, 20-year-old Michael Thomas Crooks, managed to climb onto a rooftop just 135 meters from the stage and fire eight shots before being neutralized by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
This near-tragedy triggered widespread investigations, intense scrutiny of the Secret Service’s procedures, and sweeping reforms. Yet, critical questions still remain unanswered.
A Chain of Lapses: How the Shooter Got So Close
One of the most glaring failures was the decision to leave a rooftop—clearly within line-of-sight of the rally stage—unsecured.
Despite knowing the risks associated with this vantage point, multiple personnel assessed the threat as “acceptable”, assuming farm equipment would obstruct the view. However, the equipment was never placed, and staff failed to escalate this oversight.
According to internal reports, communications were fragmented and disorganized. Instead of using a unified command center, law enforcement operated from two separate posts, relying on a disjointed mix of cell phones, radios, emails, and texts to coordinate efforts.
This disarray significantly undermined the response capability on the day of the rally.
Missed Warnings and Resource Denials
Investigations led by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs revealed that multiple requests for additional staff and resources were denied, despite the clear security demands of the presidential campaign.
The agency’s then-director, Kim Cheatle, denied rejecting such requests during congressional testimony, but a Senate report contradicted her claims.
Adding to the concern, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that threat intelligence was not shared with field agents or local law enforcement.
Though not directly tied to the rally, the unshared threat reportedly involved Iranian intentions to harm Trump, suggesting that internal siloing of information contributed to security lapses.
After the Attack: Reforms and New Leadership
In the wake of the Butler attack, the Secret Service, now under new leadership with Sean Curran—one of the agents who protected Trump on stage—has implemented numerous changes. Curran emphasized that July 13 remains central to his leadership focus.
The agency reports that 21 of 46 recommendations from oversight bodies have been fulfilled, including:
- Creation of an Aviation Division to monitor aerial threats, including drones
- Deployment of armored ATVs on terrains like golf courses
- Acquisition of mobile command vehicles to strengthen response infrastructure
- Revised protocols for handling rooftop and elevated threat locations
- Clearer responsibilities for event planning in collaboration with local law enforcement
The agency has also updated its policy manuals to improve documentation of threats, including how to manage sightlines and coordination with local authorities.
Accountability and Public Criticism
While some progress has been made, there has been no public firing of staff, though six personnel received suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days and were moved to restricted roles.
Critics, including the Senate committee, argue that these measures fall short and fail to reflect the gravity of the incident.
Lingering Unanswered Questions
Despite extensive investigations, Crooks’ motivations remain elusive. Authorities found no ideological manifesto, social media indicators, or group affiliations. The FBI concluded that he likely acted alone.
Former Secret Service agents remain baffled. Anthony Cangelosi, now a professor at John Jay College, stated:
“I can’t understand how many errors were made on that site that day. If they agreed to leave that roof unoccupied, I can’t understand it for the life of me.”
Bobby McDonald, a former supervisory agent, believes the agency underestimated the distinctive threats facing Trump compared to past presidents. He also stressed that complacency and poor communication were central failures in the planning.
The Human Cost
Corey Comperatore, an attendee who died shielding his family, has become a symbol of the day’s tragic consequences. His widow, Helen Comperatore, voiced her frustration in a recent interview, demanding answers:
“Why did they think that roof didn’t need covered? I want to sit down and talk to them.”
The attempted assassination of Donald Trump at Butler, Pennsylvania, exposed critical flaws in the Secret Service’s planning, communication, and intelligence-sharing procedures.
While reforms are underway, the tragedy continues to raise urgent questions about the agency’s readiness during a high-stakes election cycle.
Ensuring such an oversight doesn’t repeat will require sustained focus, transparency, and accountability.