Trump’s Wisconsin appearance on Saturday will be held indoors due to Secret Service staffing issues
WASHINGTON – Donald Trump’s campaign for the 2024 presidency has altered its plans for a scheduled outdoor event in western Wisconsin this Saturday, now relocating it inside because of staffing shortages impacting the Secret Service, officials have stated.
On Saturday afternoon, Trump will speak at the Prairie du Chien Area Arts Center. Initially, the campaign intended to host the event outdoors, but Secret Service officials expressed worries about their capacity to provide adequate security amid staffing limitations, according to a knowledgeable senior official who requested anonymity.
A Secret Service representative told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a YSL News Network affiliate, “The agency was never meant to provide such a heightened level of security for a growing number of protectees. Our staff and resources are being stretched thin to maintain the current operational pace.”
The official mentioned that the timing of Trump’s visit coincides with the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the agency is tasked with ensuring security for global leaders.
Early Friday, comments from a Trump campaign spokesperson in Wisconsin were unavailable.
CBS had previously reported on this change of plans.
This adjustment follows a series of increased security threats faced by the former president. Trump was injured in an assassination attempt during an outdoor rally in Pennsylvania in July, and earlier this month, Secret Service agents thwarted a second alleged attempt on his life at his Florida golf course.
Recently, intelligence officials and lawmakers have raised alarms about potential threats against Trump and other officials from Iran.
Earlier this week, Congress approved an additional $231 million in funding for the Secret Service as part of a temporary measure to prevent a government shutdown.
The agency has faced intense scrutiny, including criticism from Wisconsin lawmakers, particularly Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who has expressed dissatisfaction with the agency’s transparency regarding the investigation into the assassination attempt on Trump on July 13.
During his visit to western Wisconsin, Trump is likely to emphasize topics such as immigration and crime.