Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) slammed the Secret Service and other authorities for failing to secure former President Trump's surroundings before the new assassination attempt on Sunday.
Burchett told Eric Shawn:Fox News Live“Authorities say the suspect, later identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, was within 300 to 500 yards of the target before Secret Service agents opened fire,” the report said of the developing assassination attempt that took place outside Trump International Golf Club, where President Trump was playing golf at the time.
He called for an explanation for how the suspect was able to get so close to the former president, and said other lawmakers were already calling for more security measures.
“They've already made the call. And you have to ask yourself why there weren't drones flying where the president is. This is ridiculous,” Burchett said.
A sheriff's vehicle is parked near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, after gunshots were reported near former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
Donald Trump safe after shooting outside Palm Beach golf club
While the Tennessee senator was harshly critical of the Secret Service, he praised the agents for finding the suspect and firing his weapon.
“The problem, at least in my opinion and in the eyes of the public, is that the Secret Service is compromised and lacking leadership. And, of course, there were good agents on the scene, one of them committed that shooting. But why on earth would anyone have been on the periphery of this? This visibility that we're talking about just doesn't make sense to me. So we've got to get some answers. I don't think we're going to get answers under this administration, but under a Trump administration we could get this troubling issue cleaned up,” Burchett said.
He added: “There's no way I would ever get this close to President Trump with an AK Steel or an AK-47 or any gun with a scope.”
Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw speaks at a press conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024, after the second assassination attempt on President Trump. (Kandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)
Burchett also denied comments by Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw that there would be less security around Trump because he is not the sitting president.
“Everybody knows his pattern of behavior. We know he likes to play golf, everybody knows when he's in Florida he plays golf. Hell, they should have banned it. They have the authority to do so. They should. They're going to come to us for more money. I think they should stop hiring DEI and start putting qualified people in decision-making positions instead of doing what they're doing now,” Burchett said.
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Former President Trump was injured in an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Burchett also serves as a member of the House Select Committee on the July assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
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