In a shocking breach of security, a near-assassination attempt on President Donald Trump unfolded at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, exposing critical flaws in the United States Secret Service's operations.
According to Breitbart, the incident, which claimed the life of a devoted husband and father in the audience, prompted an extensive investigation by Sen. Rand Paul, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, revealing a series of systemic failures before, during, and after the event.
Alarming oversights within the Secret Service marked the events leading up to the Butler rally. As early as 2022, intelligence surfaced about threats against Trump, including a video from websites linked to the Iranian government showing an animated drone strike on him at Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Florida. Despite this, the Secret Service failed to act decisively on such warnings in the years that followed.
On July 12, 2024, just one day before the rally, the FBI arrested a Pakistani man with ties to Iran and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps for his role in a murder-for-hire plot targeting American political officials, according to a Department of Justice filing.
This arrest highlighted the active threats against figures like Trump, yet no additional precautions were evident at the Butler event. Trump’s security detail had repeatedly sought more staff and resources, submitting at least 10 requests to Secret Service headquarters, only to have them consistently denied or ignored.
Documents uncovered during Sen. Paul’s investigation contradicted claims by the then-director of the Secret Service in 2024, who insisted no requests were turned down. Compounding the issue, the agency lacked a clear process for handling such requests, leaving agents uncertain about their status. Some agents even refrained from submitting requests, assuming they would be rejected outright.
Secret Service executives later acknowledged they did not fully grasp the unique challenges of protecting someone who was both a former president and a major party candidate. This lack of understanding contributed to inadequate preparations for the Butler rally, where vulnerabilities were glaringly apparent. Line-of-sight risks at the rally site were identified in advance but went unaddressed, creating dangerous blind spots.
On the day of the event, a gunman deemed suspicious by law enforcement was able to move freely for nearly 45 minutes, eventually securing a clear view of Trump. Communication breakdowns exacerbated the situation, as Secret Service agents relied on cell phones instead of coordinating with state and local law enforcement via radios. A Pennsylvania State Police officer warned the Secret Service about a suspicious individual on a roof, but agents could not confirm whether this alert was received.
Furthermore, reports of a suspicious person with a rangefinder were passed to the Secret Service but never relayed to Trump’s immediate security detail. Even more troubling, the gunman flew a drone over the event site—a prohibited act—while counter-drone systems were inoperable, and advanced tools had been denied to the team. A Secret Service agent tasked with communications admitted to not seeing state and local operation plans until months later, during an interview with investigators.
The aftermath of the incident revealed a lack of accountability within the agency, as no personnel have been fired for these failures. Six employees faced disciplinary measures, though two received lighter penalties than initially recommended. The Secret Service also attempted to withhold details of these actions from investigators, prompting Sen. Paul to issue a subpoena on July 1, 2025, to access the information.
The findings of Sen. Paul’s investigation were made public on the one-year mark of the tragic event, underscoring the urgency of reform within the Secret Service. The death of an innocent attendee—a husband and father—serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of these lapses. The incident has raised serious questions about how the agency prioritizes and protects high-profile individuals in unique political roles.
Sen. Paul’s role as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has placed him at the forefront of demanding answers and accountability. The investigation’s revelations point to a cascade of missed opportunities to prevent the near-tragedy in Butler. From ignored intelligence to denied resources, the failures were both systemic and avoidable.
The lack of coordination with local law enforcement during the rally further compounded the risks, leaving security gaps that were exploited. The reliance on inadequate communication tools, like cell phones, hindered real-time response capabilities on that fateful day. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring such breakdowns are not repeated in the future.
The Butler incident has cast a harsh light on the Secret Service’s operational shortcomings, sparking bipartisan concern over national security protocols. With no firings despite the gravity of the failures, public trust in the agency’s ability to protect remains shaken. Sen. Paul’s efforts to uncover the truth aim to pave the way for meaningful changes to safeguard lives moving forward.