An eyewitness at former President Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has spoken out about the security measures in place at the event after gunshots were fired on Saturday. Benjamin Shrader, who was invited to the rally by Trump himself, expressed his concerns about the security arrangements.
Shrader described the security at the event as 'extremely lax' and 'terrible.' While he acknowledged that the security in the special guest section was good, he criticized the overall security at the rally as being insufficient.
According to Shrader, the screening process for general admission attendees was lacking, with only metal detectors and pat-downs being conducted. He highlighted the potential risk of someone being able to sneak in a weapon due to the limited security measures.
The U.S. Secret Service later confirmed that the suspected shooter fired from an elevated position, resulting in the death of at least one person and critical injuries to two others.
Shrader recounted witnessing the aftermath of the gunfire, noting the presence of a significant amount of blood. Despite the chaos, he commended Trump for displaying courage and remaining composed during the incident.
Shrader expressed his well wishes for the president's health and praised his response to the situation. He noted that while the Secret Service personnel surrounded Trump after the incident, there was no immediate lockdown or clear instructions given to attendees.
The lack of a coordinated security response following the shooting has raised concerns about the safety protocols in place at political events of this nature. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust security measures to ensure the safety of all attendees.
