U.S. approves military support for Secret Service ahead of 2024 election

The U.S. Department of Defense has approved additional military support for the Secret Service to protect presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the 2024 election, following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in July.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has directed U.S. Northern Command to provide assistance at various locations throughout the election period, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh confirmed on Thursday.

Details of the specific support were not disclosed, but it will include logistics, transportation, and communications to strengthen protective operations.

The move comes after a security lapse during Trump’s July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman accessed a nearby rooftop, targeting the former president. Trump survived the attack, but one attendee was killed, and two others were wounded.

The Secret Service, which expressed regret over the incident, announced an increase in security measures and accepted the resignation of its chief.

The FBI continues to investigate the motive behind the shooting as the Secret Service works with military support to prevent further threats in the lead-up to the election.