President Donald Trump still faces a plethora of threats, ranging from violent extremists backed by proxy groups to domestic actors inspired to incite violence amid heightened political rhetoric, according to experts. While the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, resulted in significant changes to the Secret Service’s security practices, the agency faces an unprecedented array of threats in the current political climate.
Bill Gage, a former Secret Service agent during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, emphasized the severity of the threats Trump faces. Gage noted that no U.S. president has ever been under such a high level of risk of violence. The Butler incident, where 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at Trump from a rooftop, has prompted major reforms and heightened security measures. Gage warned that political rhetoric from the left, which frames Trump as a threat to democracy, can be interpreted by radicals as justification for violent action against the president.
In addition to domestic threats, international actors such as Iran, which opposes Trump, have been identified as potential backers of hostile proxy groups. Gage argued that these factors, alongside controversial policies like immigration reform and funding cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), contribute to the increased threat level. The political climate, including comments from leaders like Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who described democracy as under assault following the federal deployment of National Guard forces, further exacerbates the situation.
While the Secret Service has taken significant steps to enhance security, former agent Tim Miller highlighted the need for adopting more advanced technology in areas such as secure communications, drone surveillance, and real-time intelligence tools. Miller noted that the agency is still playing catch-up with these innovations. At the same time, the Secret Service is expanding its capabilities through initiatives such as the use of drones for surveillance and the development of a new training facility replicating the White House at the James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland.
In response to the Butler incident, a bipartisan House task force revealed that the attack was