Trump’s safety is of utmost importance.
The Secret Service is on maximum alert as President Donald J. Trump faces what former agents call the most dangerous threat environment in American history. The shocking 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed Trump’s ear, has exposed major security lapses—and sparked sweeping changes inside the agency tasked with protecting the most targeted political figure in the world.
Former Secret Service agent Bill Gage, who served under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, says the threats facing President Trump dwarf anything previous presidents endured. “No other president has ever faced this level of danger,” Gage told Fox News Digital. “This is a historic threat environment, and it’s getting worse.”
Danger from All Sides: Extremists, Foreign Proxies, and the Radical Left
The threats come from all directions: domestic radicals fueled by anti-Trump media, foreign-backed proxy groups, and online extremists inspired by dangerous political rhetoric. Gage warns that constant attacks from Democrat leaders and left-wing media personalities are inflaming tensions and may incite real-world violence.
Following the Butler rally shooting—where 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks killed a patriotic firefighter, Corey Comperatore—another man was arrested months later for trying to assassinate Trump in Florida. These back-to-back attempts signal a disturbing pattern.
“This is not just political theater anymore,” Gage said. “This is a coordinated campaign of demonization, and someone out there is going to act on it.”
Left-Wing Rhetoric Fueling Real-World Violence
The political left continues to portray Trump as a “threat to democracy”—a message that, according to Gage, is interpreted by radicals as justification for violence. He specifically pointed to remarks made by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who claimed democracy was “under assault” after Trump deployed National Guard troops to restore order during immigration riots.
“Someone unstable reads that and takes it as a green light,” Gage warned.
Even federal immigration agents are under fire. A gunman recently opened fire at a Border Patrol annex in Texas. No motive has been released, but conservative lawmakers say the rising violence stems directly from anti-law enforcement rhetoric.
Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS), who chairs the House subcommittee on border enforcement, says Democrats are “emboldening extremists” with inflammatory language. Meanwhile, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) called ICE “a terrorist force”—and has refused to apologize.
Security Overhaul Underway—but Challenges Remain
The Secret Service has begun implementing major reforms to respond to the evolving threat. A bipartisan investigation determined that the Butler shooting was completely preventable and exposed critical failures, including unsecured high-risk areas and poor intelligence sharing.
Ronald Rowe, the agency’s former acting director, revealed sweeping changes are underway:
- Expanded drone surveillance and anti-drone tech
- Upgraded communications for federal and local coordination
- Hundreds of new agents added to Trump’s protection team
Congress authorized $231 million to hire over 1,000 new agents and officers in 2025—a clear sign of the serious threat facing Trump and those who defend him.
Additionally, the agency is planning a full-scale replica of the White House to improve protective training. “Agents need to know every inch of the White House,” said Director Sean Curran. “This level of preparation is essential to protecting the President.”
The Fight to Secure America’s Future
The Secret Service reports it has implemented 21 of the nearly 50 urgent recommendations issued by Congressional oversight, with 16 more in progress. But former agents say there’s still a long road ahead.
Tim Miller, another former agent, warned that the agency must move faster to adopt secure technology, improve intelligence systems, and stay ahead of modern threats. “These are not optional upgrades,” Miller said. “They are necessary for protecting President Trump—and the future of the Republic.”
As America moves toward the next election, and political tensions rise, one thing is clear: President Trump is under constant threat, and the men and women of the Secret Service are America’s last line of defense.
