RFK Jr. Will Receive Secret Service Protection Days After Trump Assassination Attempt
ForbesJUL 25 2024
RFK Jr. Will Receive Secret Service Protection
Above: Independent candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the Libertarian National Convention on May 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kevin Dietsch/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Independent candidate for US president, will begin receiving Secret Service protection in the aftermath of Saturday's assassination attempt on former Pres. Donald Trump.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, on orders from Pres. Joe Biden, announced the increased security for Kennedy "in light of" the shooting of Trump. In addition, Trump called protecting Kennedy "imperative."
While the Secret Service is authorized to protect major presidential and vice presidential candidates and their spouses within 120 days of a general election, Mayorkas and an advisory committee of House members and senators decide who qualifies as "major."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The previous denial of Secret Service protection for Kennedy was based on precedent, as protection was previously doled out based on holding a strong position in the polls for a lengthy period of time — a threshold Kennedy hadn't met. The tragic incident over the weekend changed perspectives on the environment the candidates are operating in, so it's now appropriate to secure Kennedy's events.
Establishment-critical narrative
It shouldn't have taken an assassination attempt on one of the candidates for the Biden administration to act to protect them all with the Secret Service — yet here we are. Just based on Kennedy's name recognition and his family history, he should've been provided protection rather than having to spend millions on private security. Luckily, the administration has finally acted before Kennedy could face an attack similar to what Trump faced.