Butler exposed the Secret Service’s weaknesses, but new threats test whether lessons have been learned

Published June 5, 2026 5:07pm ET | Updated June 5, 2026 5:44pm ET



The attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, exposed vulnerabilities inside an agency long regarded as the world’s premier protective service, the Secret Service

Congressional investigations, independent reviews, and the Secret Service’s own admissions pointed to communication breakdowns, lapses in coordination, and security gaps that allowed a gunman to open fire at a then-former president from a nearby rooftop. 

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.