Congress has unanimously agreed that former President Donald Trump should have stronger security after surviving a second assassination attempt in two months.
The Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024 was passed Friday on a 405-0 vote, with 26 members of the House absent.
The legislation orders the director of U.S. Secret Service to apply the same standards that determine the number of agents needed to protect the president, vice president, and major presidential or vice-presidential candidates.
The bill was first introduced by Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) following the first assassination attempt against Trump on July 13.
"It is in the direct national security interest of the United States of America to provide the best protection in its power of its presidents and presidential candidates,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement after the bill’s passage. “History has shown that assassinations can massively disrupt our nation’s political system, cause dangerous disorder and chaos, and embolden further violence.”
They added: “The two recent attempts on former President Trump’s life showed the world that unfortunately, the Secret Service has serious gaps in protection, and more must be done to ensure no one can take advantage of those vulnerabilities.”
“We thank President Biden for recently taking action to increase former President Trump’s Secret Service detail. However, without the passage and implementation of this legislation, this enhanced protection will not be codified into law and is subject to change with time,” Torres and Lawler warned. "We urge the Senate and President Biden to get the Enhanced Presidential Security Act through the finish line for the good of the American people.”
Last Sunday, a 58-year-old man identified as Ryan Wesley Routh hid for 12 hours with a rifle near the former president's Florida golf course. Routh later pointed an AK-47 at Trump through a fence as the former president played a round of golf, seemingly with the intent to harm Trump.
On Monday, Routh made his first federal court appearance where he faced two counts of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Routh faces up to 20 years in prison for his two charges, though other charges are expected as the investigation continues.
During remarks at a Long Island rally this weekend, Trump said the second attempt on his life has “hardened [his] resolve.”
“As you know, three days ago, there was yet another assassination attempt on my life,” Trump said of the Sunday assassination attempt at his West Palm Beach, Florida golf course, prompting the audience to erupt with boos. “It was the second one in eight weeks by a violent radical left mobster.”
The former president then said God had once again spared his life.
“It must have been God, thank you. Not once, but twice," he said. "These encounters with death have not broken my will. They have really given me a much bigger and stronger mission."
