What are the security measures of the Secret Service for Tump and Biden’s election rallies?

An assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania left the former US president bleeding from his right ear as a bullet miraculously grazed him as it flew past his head.

Although it was later revealed the 78-year-old was “fine” after receiving medical attention at a local medical center, one man sadly lost his life and two others were critically injured by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired several shots before being killed by the Secret Service.

Trump thanked law enforcement officers and the Secret Service for their “rapid response” in a statement posted on Truth Social, a social media platform he founded himself. However, the incident has called into question how a shooter was able to get so close to the Republican Party’s presumptive 2024 presidential candidate.

Where was Trump fired at from? How close was the shooter?

Crooks, it was discovered, had fired at Trump from the roof of a manufacturing plant just north of the Butler Farm Show grounds, where the rally as taking place. It is estimated he was less than 150 meters away from the former president, which is thought to be a reasonable distance from which a competent shooter could hit a human-sized target.

The Secret Service, along with the US Department of Homeland Security, immediately launched an investigation into what went wrong.

How are Donald Trump and Joe Biden protected at election rallies?

As is the case for all former presidents, both Trump and present incumbent Joe Biden have Secret Service protection for life, and can be accompanied by more than a dozen vehicles as they make their way to public events.

At election rallies, local law enforcement typically helps the Secret Service secure the venue, sometimes helped by agents from other agencies within Homeland Security.

Before Trump or Biden arrives, these agents scan the venue for threats, principally bombs or potential shooters. On this occasion, Trump’s security failed to notice Crooks had made his way onto the roof of the manufacturing plant until it was too late, with a video showing the reaction of a sniper coming after the shooter had fired several shoots.

Following the incident, FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek called what had happened “surprising”.

Also before the event, barriers are put up as a perimeter, with audience members required to pass through a metal detector to enter the venue. All bags and wallets are searched by armed agents, who also pat down every attendee.

At Saturday’s rally, a heavily-armed counter assault team, whose Secret Service code name is Hawkeye, was responsible for eliminating threats so other agents were able to move Trump to safety, which is what happened immediately after the shots were fired.

Hercules, the counter sniper team, uses binoculars and sniper rifles to neutralise long-range threats, which didn’t happen in Butler until Trump had already been shot at.