Trump campaign requests more military support for the former president's protection
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has requested additional security measures similar to what a sitting president would receive amid the increased threats against the former president’s life, a source familiar with matter told NBC News.
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has requested additional security measures similar to what a sitting president would receive amid the increased threats against the former president’s life, a source familiar with matter told NBC News.
Late last month, Trump campaign co-manager Susie Wiles reached out to White House chief of staff Jeff Zients to ask the administration to provide military assets, including armored cars, protection while flying, and temporary airspace restrictions, among other security measures, the source said.
When Zients got the call, he immediately connected Wiles with leadership at the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service so that she had a direct line, a source familiar with the call said. Zients also made clear that President Joe Biden had directed the Secret Service to provide the highest level of protection for Trump, the source said.
A subsequent letter from Wiles to acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe reviewed by NBC News confirmed several of the campaign’s requests. The letter argued that threats to Trump’s safety have limited his ability to campaign.
The Trump campaign also requested that special operations forces be assigned to protect Trump, according to two U.S. officials. The source with knowledge of the matter denied this and said that Secret Service officials, not the Trump campaign, requested special operations forces with the specific task of thwarting potential drone attacks. The campaign declined to comment.
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