In a political climate that’s already off the rails, it seems we’ve hit a new low: multiple attempts on President Trump’s life. Two incidents in just two months? That’s not only disturbing, it’s downright dangerous. Thankfully, Congress seems to have finally woken up to the reality of escalating political violence. In a rare moment of unity, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill to beef up Secret Service protection for major presidential and vice-presidential candidates. And let’s be honest, this should’ve happened after the first attempt on Trump’s life, not the second.
The bill, introduced by Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), sailed through with a 405-0 vote. Yep, not a single dissent. You know things are serious when both sides of the aisle can agree on something. The timing couldn’t be more crucial as we gear up for the 2024 election, with Trump and Harris on the campaign trail. It’s hard enough to stomach the idea that someone could try to alter our elections with a bullet, but two attempts? That’s chilling.
Trump, as usual, brushed it off after the recent attack while he was golfing in Florida, but there’s no denying the threats are real. The first attack occurred in July at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Both incidents have ramped up the pressure on lawmakers to do something about the security situation.
The bill isn’t just about throwing more money at the Secret Service; it’s about establishing a uniform standard of protection for current and former presidents, vice presidents, and major candidates. No matter how much the media wants to pretend that Trump is a “threat to democracy,” even they have to admit that every candidate deserves equal protection under the law.
Rep. Lawler summed it up perfectly: “The idea that our election could be decided by an assassin’s bullet should shake the conscience of our nation.” And he’s right. The American people deserve to choose their leaders at the ballot box, not have them taken out by some deranged lunatic.
Even Jerry Nadler, not exactly known for being a Trump fan, had to get on board. He supported the bill but took the opportunity to give a speech on gun violence. Fair point, Jerry, but maybe let’s focus on keeping our presidential candidates alive for now.
At the end of the day, protecting our political leaders is crucial. Let’s hope the Senate and President Biden do the right thing and push this through quickly. It’s time to stop playing politics with people’s lives.