SS Rules of Engagement — Secret Service protocol in this situation is to wait until the President is fired upon to return fire. This is why Secret Service did not shoot first.

• Secret Service Rules of Engagement:
  • The Secret Service’s protocol requires agents to wait until the president is fired upon before returning fire, which led to immediate backlash after the assassination attempt on Trump.
• Drone Usage Controversy:
  • Questions have arisen about whether the Secret Service utilized drones for situational awareness during the incident, with experts arguing that drones could have provided critical surveillance and identified potential threats more effectively.
• House Republicans’ Investigation into DEI Policies:
  • Prior to the assassination attempt, House Republicans were already investigating whether the Secret Service’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies were affecting its readiness, indicating ongoing concerns about the agency’s operational effectiveness.

Here’s my reporting on why the Secret Service did not shoot until AFTER the shooter engaged and some context about the House Republicans’ investigation already underway (months before Trump’s assassination attempt) into whether the agency’s DEI policies are affecting its…

— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) July 14, 2024