Former Secret Service agent Bill Gage says golf courses are one of the most difficult areas to secure, citing the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump. He stresses the need for increased manpower and security measures at these vulnerable locations.
The assassination attempt suspect Ryan Routh allegedly aimed a rifle at former President Trump while he was golfing at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, marking the second failed attempt on his life. This incident has reignited concerns about the increasing threats to U.S. officials and the challenges faced by the Secret Service in protecting them.
According to former Secret Service agent Bill Gage, golf courses are one of the most difficult areas to secure due to their sprawling nature and lack of natural barriers. "Camp David is one of the most secure places in the world," Gage told Fox News Digital. "It is extremely hard to secure vacation properties."
Golf Courses: A Growing Security Nightmare for the Secret Service
Gage described the extensive security operation required for President Obama's vacation in Hawaii in 2012, involving dozens of Navy SEALS and the U.S. Coast Guard. Unlike the secluded Camp David, Obama's vacation home had neighbors and visitors coming and going, increasing the level of risk.
"When Obama vacationed in Hawaii in 2012, surrounded on three sides by water, we had 20 or 30 Navy SEALS with us on different kinds of boats patrolling," Gage said. "We had to have multiple Coast Guard entities. We had to have a separate evacuation plan. Landing sites. How far is the hospital? That house had neighbors right there."
Golf Courses: A Growing Security Nightmare for the Secret Service
Gage emphasizes the need for increased manpower and a complete overhaul of the Secret Service to boost its preparedness in the face of evolving threats. "Aside from the two assassination attempts against Trump, other high-profile threats against U.S. officials in recent months have included the July arrest of a Florida man for making threats against the GOP presidential ticket, August charges against a man accused of making death threats against Vice President Kamala Harris, federal charges against someone accused of threatening Harris, Biden, and Obama, and charges against an alleged Iranian agent accused of trying to place a hit on high-level U.S. officials," Gage said.
The Secret Service is currently authorized to protect all current and former presidents and their spouses, as well as certain high-level Cabinet members and other individuals designated by presidential order. However, this mission has become increasingly unsustainable without more manpower. "It's an unsustainable mission without more manpower, one former agent says," the article notes.
Golf Courses: A Growing Security Nightmare for the Secret Service
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has announced that the House is considering additional Secret Service funding for a "manpower allocation," although Gage warns that hiring and training new agents could take up to two years. "It's not going to make an immediate impact," Gage said. "[We] need legislation or an executive order to reform the agency."
The article also highlights the challenges faced by the Secret Service in securing presidents' sprawling properties, which often lack the security measures found at the White House or Camp David. Former President Trump's properties in Florida and New York, and President Biden's vacation home in Delaware, are examples of locations that require extensive protective precautions.
Golf Courses: A Growing Security Nightmare for the Secret Service
Gage emphasizes the increasing level of risk associated with presidential vacations outside of secure facilities. "For a president to vacation in the 1980s in Kennebunkport, Maine, or the Bush compound, I'm not so sure that a president could do that now without extensive protective precautions being taken," Gage said.
The recent assassination attempts against former President Trump have raised serious concerns about the security of U.S. officials and the ability of the Secret Service to protect them. Former agent Bill Gage's insights into the challenges faced by the Secret Service and his calls for increased manpower and reform underscore the urgency of addressing these security vulnerabilities.
Golf Courses: A Growing Security Nightmare for the Secret Service
