House Speaker Mike Johnson (Fox News) Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called for “accountability” Monday following the second assassination
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called for “accountability” Monday following the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump this year, saying the country needed to “demand” better protection for the former president.
A Secret Service agent fired shots at a man with a semi-automatic rifle while Trump was playing a round of golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday, with the alleged gunman being taken into custody by local law enforcement. Johnson praised the agent who thwarted the alleged attempt on Trump’s life but raised concerns about the Secret Service and “manpower allocation.
Read: What We Know About Suspected Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Wesley Routh In Florida
“I got a briefing from the acting director of the Secret Service, Ron Rowe, within 90 minutes of the event. I was actually sitting with President Trump when he called. We listened to that in detail and what I understand happened is that those agents that were with him yesterday saw that barrel of that gun between the bushes on a golf course,” Johnson said. “I mean, you know, that’s a difficult thing to spot. Thankfully they did, unlike in Butler, they did not pause. They immediately pulled their weapons and fired. I think that’s why this guy, the suspect, the shooter threw the gun in the bushes and ran. Had they not been, had they not acted so quickly and decisively, we might having a different conversation here today.”
Trump was shot and slightly wounded in the right ear during an assassination attempt while giving a speech at a July 13 campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania, that left former volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore dead.
Read: Thomas Matthew Crooks: The Pennsylvania Gunman Who Targeted Former President Trump
“President Trump needs the most coverage of anyone. He’s the most attacked, he is the most threatened, even probably more than when he was in the Oval Office,” Johnson continued. “So we are demanding in the house that he have every asset available and we will make more available if necessary. I don’t think it’s a funding issue, I think it’s manpower allocation.”
“Fox and Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade asked if Johnson would look into using Navy SEALs who left active duty to enhance Trump’s security, while also moving the Secret Service from under the Department of Homeland Security.
Read: Suspect In Trump Assassination Attempt In Florida Identified As Ryan Wesley Routh
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Johnson said. “We will look at all those things. As you know, I put together in the task force in the immediate wake of the Butler, Pennsylvania, the shocking failures, lapses in security there. There are hearings coming up this month for that — that task force and of course, the Senate has its own homeland security committee looking into it as well. There is going to be reports and recommendations coming forward and Congress will act swiftly. We need accountability. We must demand that this job is being done. I think there are some really patriotic, great people working in the Secret Service, but it’s the leadership. We have no faith — I have no faith in Secretary Mayorkas.”
The alleged gunman has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who appeared before a federal magistrate Monday after being held overnight, as the Tampa Free Press reported.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
