One day after an apparent attempt on former President Donald Trump's life, the second in a matter of months, President Joe Biden on Monday said the Secret Service "needs more help" and called on Congress to address the issue.
“One thing I want to make clear is the service needs more help,” Biden told reporters as he was leaving the White House on Monday. “And I think the Congress should respond to their needs, if they, in fact, need more services.”
He added, “That’s what we’re going to be talking about.”
Asked what he believes the agency needs, Biden replied: “They may decide whether they need more personnel or not."
Biden also expressed relief that Trump was unharmed and said they have a full report “so far.”
“Thank God the president is OK,” he said.
A man is in custody on Monday after Secret Service agents found him pointing an “AK-47-style rifle” in bushes at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., while the former president was playing golf on Sunday. Agents opened fire on the man, identified by authorities as Ryan Wesley Routh, and took him into custody. The FBI is calling the incident an “attempted assassination” of the former president, who is unharmed.
On Sunday, both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris – Trump's rival in November's election – expressed their gratitude that Trump was unharmed and condemned political violence in separate statements.
"I am relieved that the former President is unharmed," Biden said Sunday. "There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened. As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety."
"I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today," Harris said. "As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence. I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance."
It follows an attempt on Trump’s life at a rally in Pennsylvania just two months ago in which the former president was shot in the ear and an attendee was killed. The Secret Service director at the time, Kimberly Cheatle, has since resigned. Biden has yet to name a new head of the agency and the deputy director, Ronald Rowe, has been leading the agency in an acting capacity.
In the immediate aftermath of the attempt on Trump’s life at the Pennsylvania rally, Biden told reporters he himself still felt safe with the protection of the Secret Service.
A bipartisan task force in the House has been investigating the assassination attempt of the former president in Pennsylvania for weeks.