Security expert Will Geddes says the Secret Service has “lessons to learn” after Donald Trump was the subject of an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
The former president was swarmed by his security detail after being shot in the ear around 15 minutes after he took to the stage at the campaign event in Butler.
Speaking on GB News, Geddes noted Trump’s reaction to the shock incident and said it made one thing clear - that Trump has undergone security training himself.
“What was evident was that Donald Trump has had some training”, he said.
IN PICTURES: Donald Trump raises fist and mouths 'fight' to crowdGETTY IMAGES/TRUMP CAMPAIGN OFFICE/HANDOUT“As soon as the shots rang out and he realised he had been scuffed, he went to the ground first, before the Secret Service even got to him.”
Despite Trump’s quick thinking, Geddes feels the same cannot be said for the security and there are “lessons to be learned” from the incident.
“They should have kept him down and low”, he said.
“They should have moved him out of the area as quickly as possible, there could have been other shooters.
“There is a lot of lessons to be learned, maybe within the secret service, as to what their response was.”
The former president took to his social media platform Truth Social to thank God for preventing the “unthinkable from happening” as he vowed to remain “defiant in the face of wickedness”.
Will Geddes spoke to Dawn Neesom on GB News
GB NEWS
On Sunday morning, the FBI identified the “subject involved” in the attempted assassination as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. He was shot dead by snipers.
The Secret Service is now under fire, with many claiming the group has failed in its primary task of ensuring former presidents are afforded lifelong protection.
The shooter was less than 500ft from the stage.
An eyewitness told the BBC that he has pointed out the gunman to the Secret Service, minutes before the attack happened.
IN PICTURES: Donald Trump addresses crowd at rally in Butler, PennsylvaniaGETTY IMAGES/TRUMP CAMPAIGN OFFICE/HANDOUTThe man, who was identified only as Greg, said: “We’re pointing at the guy crawling up the roof. We could clearly see him with a rifle.
“I’m standing there pointing at him for two to three minutes. Secret Service is looking at us from the top of the barn, I’m pointing at the roof... and next thing you know, five shots rang out.”
The man said the shooting came from outside the secured perimeter at the event.
At a briefing late on Saturday, FBI officials said it was surprising that the suspect had been able to fire multiple shots.
The FBI has now taken over the investigation of the attack.
