Correspondents’ dinner suspect charged with trying to assassinate Trump
Leavitt confirmed that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles would meet with senior federal law enforcement officials to discuss considerations for the president’s security during upcoming “major events.”
“As the president himself has told you, he continues to have confidence in the United States Secret Service, as I just said,” Leavitt said. “That said, obviously the White House always asks the tough questions and keeps the president safe.”
She continued: “It is my understanding that there will be a meeting early this week called by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with senior DHS leadership, members of the United States Secret Service and our own operational team here to ensure the safety and security of the President as many of these major events move forward.”
Leavitt said the administration is “always monitoring operations and procedures, always asking the tough questions to ensure the president’s safety, and the American people must be assured that there is no higher priority for the president and his team than the president’s safety.”
Asked if the administration considered the shooting a security failure, Leavitt said the president said he thought the protocols were working.
“The Secret Service did their job well,” she said.
Asked if the three attempts on his life in recent years would change the types of events the president goes to, Leavitt said: “Well, again, that will be part of the conversations going forward. But as you’ve heard from President Trump, he doesn’t want these deranged lunatics and these serious acts of political violence to change our American way of life.”
