US Elections: Military to Support Secret Service in Protecting Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates

Spokeswoman Pentagon Sabrina Singh did not provide details on what type of support would be provided, but said Lloyd Austin instructed the Northern Command USA planning and providing Secret Service support at various locations during the election.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi later said the Secret Service had stepped up its security detail following the Republican presidential candidate's rally. Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on July 13, during which the former president survived an assassination attempt. “As part of this effort, the Department of Defense is providing the Secret Service with additional assistance, including logistics, transportation and communications, throughout the 2024 election cycle,” he said.

On Wednesday, Pittsburgh FBI Director Kevin Rojek said the office is still unable to determine the motive of the perpetrator of the July attack on Trumpand his social media activity indicates a “mix of ideologies.” Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was registered to vote for the Republican Party, but investigators said he was interested in political events related to both parties.

The White House said Trump's security detail was beefed up just before the attack, Trump's team was warned of a possible Iranian attack on him, and the Secret Service did not deny requests from the former president's team for additional security. But it is still unclear why the gunman might have fired shots at the Republican candidate, and both the intelligence agencies and Congress are investigating the matter.

During the attack on Donald Trump in Butler, one person was killed and two were seriously injured. The attacker was shot by a Secret Service sniper. The director of that service, Kimberly Cheatle, who was questioned by Congress, eventually resigned.