Biden Orders Secret Service to Protect RFK Jr. Following Attempted Assassination of Trump
WASHINGTON
In a swift response to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, current President Joe Biden has commanded the U.S. Secret Service to extend their protective services to independent presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The decision, announced on Monday, was taken to avert any further possible threat to the national election candidates.
Increased Risks and Repeated Appeals
Though Kennedy has consistently remained an underdog for winning Electoral College votes or the presidency, his campaign events have attracted significant crowds. He has requested Secret Service protection repeatedly over the past few months, instigated by several incidents. Kennedy’s family history, which includes the assassination of his father, Robert F. Kennedy Sr., and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, has further impressed the imperative need for reinforced security.
Expressing gratitude, Kennedy acknowledged in his statement, “Thank you, President Biden, for extending me Secret Service protection,” further appreciating the efforts of his private security firm, Gavin de Becker & Associates, who have “kept [him] safe for the past 15 months of [his] presidential campaign.”
Biden’s Directive
Reports confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas affirm that Biden has called for extra safety measures for Kennedy before and after the events of the attempt on Trump’s life. It is a legal requirement to provide protection for major party presidential and vice-presidential candidates and their immediate families, 120 days before the general election. Yet, third party candidates like Kennedy are adjudged on a case-by-case basis. His personal expenditure on private security, said to be in the millions, has ostensibly impacted his campaign’s scale.
Trump’s Rally Attack and The Fall Out
Although threats to political candidates have been tragically commonplace, post the attack on Trump, enforcement officials have noted an alarming ascension in the frequency of violent threats. Secretary Mayorkas admitted that both Trump and Biden are “constantly the subject of threats” and that the nation finds itself in a “heightened and very dynamic threat environment.”
On Monday, Kennedy met Trump to discuss matters of “national unity”, according to Stefanie Spear, his campaign spokesperson. Despite having a recognized name and a loyal support base, Kennedy’s opportunity to rival any third-party presidential candidate since Ross Perot in the 1990s hangs in the balance. His campaign maintains that the strong standings in certain national polls lend credibility and weight to his candidacy.
Amidst these developments, it is also important to note that Trump was officially pronounced the Republican presidential nominee on Monday at the Republican National Convention. Despite the weekend shooting incident in Pennsylvania, he reportedly sustained no significant injuries. He too has been granted enhanced protection, reflective of the evolving threat landscape.
