Biden calls on Congress to give Secret Service 'more help' after second Trump assassination attempt

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden called on Congress to provide the Secret Service with more resources after the law enforcement agency thwarted an assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump over the weekend.

“Thank God the president is OK,” Biden told reporters as he left the White House Monday. “One thing I want to make clear: the Service needs more help. I think Congress should respond to their needs.”

Pressed to say what type of assistance he was referring to, Biden suggested Secret Service needs more personnel.

“I think they may need – they’re deciding – whether they need more personnel or not,” he said.

Trump was not harmed in the apparent attempt on his life at his Florida golf course in West Palm Beach. Secret Service agents who were on the course with him spotted the suspect, who authorities said was holding an AK-47-style assault rifle. The suspect dropped the weapon and fled the scene, they said.

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An investigation was taking place on Monday following the incident — the second one if its kind in two months involving Trump. The weekend before the Republican National Convention, a gunman opened fire on a Trump rally and wounded the Republican nominee for president. One attendee, Corey Comperatore, was killed in the attack.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, said she was "deeply disturbed" by what appeared to be another assassination attempt against Trump and condemned political violence.

"As President Biden said, our Administration will ensure the Secret Service has every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to carry out its critical mission," Harris said in the statement.

At an event in Philadelphia later on Monday, Biden stressed that there was no place in America for political violence. "None. Zero. Never."

"I commend the Secret Service for the expert handling of the situation," Biden said at the beginning of his remarks.

Biden said the acting head of the Secret Service is in Florida today assessing the situation and determining whether any other adjustments need to be made to protect Trump.

"In America we resolve our differences peacefully at the ballot box," he said. "Not at the end of a gun."

Contributing: Bart Jansen