The White House is reviewing security protocols this week following Saturday's shooting at a Washington hotel where President Donald Trump and top officials were attending a dinner, the administration said on Monday.
The third major security incident targeting Trump in less than two years occurred as he prepares for a summer packed with high-profile public events, testing the Secret Service at a moment of high political and global tensions.
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will meet with leaders of the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security to discuss security operations for major events involving Trump, White House press secretary Karoline
Leavitt told reporters on Monday, adding that security changes are under consideration.
"We're always looking for ways to improve security," Leavitt said. "I think if you just sit here and say everything is perfect all the time, that's not a good way to operate."
Leavitt said Trump is standing by the Secret Service leadership following the shooting outside the Washington Hilton ballroom where the dinner was being held.
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, faces a three-count complaint including attempted assassination and firearms charges, and could receive a life sentence if convicted.
The incident has renewed wider concerns about political violence in the United States and the challenges involved in protecting high-profile public figures.
Speaking to AnewZ Dilek Tuna on Tuesday, Mark Meirowitz, a Professor at the State University of New York Maritime College and holds a doctorate in Political Science, described the incident as “very problematic,” pointing to what he sees as serious gaps in security procedures.
“How did this guy show up, come on a train, go to a hotel, check in, bring luggage, bring weapons… and attempt to kill the president?” he said, calling the situation “mind-boggling.”
He also stressed that while the Secret Service acted professionally, “more needs to be done” to prevent similar breaches in the future.
Dr. Meirowitz highlighted the President’s response, describing his behaviour during the incident as “incredibly calm and poised.”
He also pointed to ongoing scrutiny of security arrangements, questioning venue choices and the concentration of top officials in a single location.
“What was the thinking of having them all there in the same room?” he asked, warning that such arrangements could pose serious risks.
The analyst said the incident underlines the need for internal review of security protocols, while also noting the importance of the Secret Service’s role.
“Clearly, a lot of things here were not thought through,” he added, while acknowledging that the agents involved acted to prevent greater harm.
In July 2024, a sniper's bullet skimmed Trump's ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Two months later, Secret Service agents spotted an armed man hiding in bushes a few hundred yards from where Trump was golfing in Florida.
Since then, security around Trump has tightened, and his security detail uses bulletproof glass when he speaks at outdoor events.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 24 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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