RFK Jr. Will Receive Secret Service Protection Days After Trump Assassination Attempt
ForbesJUL 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 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.