Former Secret Service agent Richard Staropoli has sounded the alarm about the state of the Secret Service, claiming the agency is woefully unprepared for what he predicts could be a serious threat to President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration. After two assassination attempts during Trump’s 2024 campaign—one of which saw a 20-year-old armed individual getting alarmingly close at a Pennsylvania rally—Staropoli’s assessment paints a grim picture of the agency’s capabilities.
Staropoli didn’t mince words, stating that today’s Secret Service falls far short of its former glory. He described the current agency as “politically compromised” and accused it of hiding its shortcomings behind a façade of high-tech jargon. While the agency talks about drones and UAVs, Staropoli emphasized the need for good old-fashioned human intelligence and boots on the ground. According to him, the basics—manpower and securing the environment—are being neglected, leaving Trump at risk of an attack “of a much bigger magnitude” than the previous attempts.
His criticism comes as Congress scrutinizes the Secret Service’s performance. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe recently testified before a House task force investigating threats against Trump. The hearing quickly descended into chaos when Rowe clashed with Republican Rep. Pat Fallon over his attendance at a 9/11 memorial. Fallon grilled Rowe about the agency’s priorities and whether its leadership is up to the task of protecting the president-elect. Rowe, visibly frustrated, invoked his time at Ground Zero to defend himself—a move Fallon called out as politicizing tragedy. The exchange did little to bolster confidence in the agency’s current state.
The skepticism isn’t limited to Staropoli. Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino has also voiced concerns about the agency’s preparedness. Bongino, who left the agency years ago, predicted another security “incident” just weeks before the second assassination attempt on Trump in Florida. When asked about whether the Secret Service had improved under current leadership, Bongino’s blunt response was, “No, it’s worse.” His dire warnings and open criticism of the agency echo Staropoli’s concerns, suggesting a troubling consensus among those familiar with the Secret Service’s inner workings.
With Trump’s inauguration just weeks away, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Secret Service’s apparent lack of readiness, coupled with public criticisms from former agents, raises serious questions about its ability to handle threats. As Staropoli warned, if the agency doesn’t return to its roots and address its shortcomings, the risks to Trump—and to national security—are dangerously real. For now, the spotlight remains firmly on the Secret Service, but whether it can rise to the occasion remains an open question.
