Trump Requests Military Aircraft For Final Weeks of Campaign Travel, Citing Threats From Iran
AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Donald Trump’s campaign has requested the former president be allowed to fly in a military aircraft during the final weeks of election travel.
Following two assassination attempts on the GOP nominee’s life, the campaign’s requests also include heavier flight restrictions over his residences and rallies as well as ballistics glass pre-positioned in multiple battleground states for the campaign to use, according to The Washington Post. The campaign is also asking for military vehicles to transport Trump while he is on the ground.
The requests were reportedly made by Trump campaign manager Susie Wiles in an email with Secret Service head Ronald L. Rowe Jr. over the last two weeks. The campaign claimed Trump needed the extra security following briefings with U.S. intelligence in which they said Iran is still plotting to kill the GOP nominee.
WaPo reports that advisers with Trump’s campaign are worried about the potential use of drones and missiles by Iran:
In the emails over the past two weeks from campaign manager Susie Wiles to Ronald L. Rowe Jr., the head of the Secret Service, she expressed displeasure with the Secret Service and said the campaign recently had to cancel a public event at the last minute because of a “lack of personnel” from the Secret Service — instead only putting Trump in a small room with reporters. Wiles said Trump’s campaign is being hampered in its planning because of threats, and expects to hold far more events in the final weeks of the campaign.
She also wrote that the U.S. government has not been able to provide what the campaign views as an extensive enough plan to protect Trump. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), a Trump ally, also wrote a letter to the Secret Service asking for military aircraft or additional protection for Trump’s private plane, according to a copy of the letter reviewed by The Post.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi claimed Trump is receiving “the highest levels of protection” which includes temporary flight restrictions over his residence.
“Assistance from the Department of Defense is regularly provided for the former president’s protection, to include explosive ordnance disposal, canine units, and airlift transportation,” Guglielmi said. “Additionally, the former president is receiving the highest level of technical security assets which include unmanned aerial vehicles, counter unmanned aerial surveillance systems, ballistics, and other advanced technology systems.”
No presidential candidate in the history of the country has been escorted around in a military plane ahead of an election while campaigning for office.
