Americans doubt secret service's ability to protect presidential candidates: Poll

By Dilara Hamit

A significant portion of Americans harbor doubts about the Secret Service's capacity to protect presidential candidates, according to a new poll, with skepticism surging following last month’s assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

The survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that only about three in 10 Americans are extremely or very confident in the Secret Service's ability to shield candidates from violence as the election approaches. Furthermore, around seven in 10 respondents believe the agency bears at least moderate responsibility for the attempt on Trump’s life.

The Secret Service, which has been responsible for protecting US presidents for over a century, is facing intense scrutiny after a gunman came alarmingly close to Trump, firing multiple shots from an AR-style rifle from a distance of just 150 yards. The former president sustained a minor injury to his ear, narrowly escaping a fatal outcome.

The poll was conducted in the wake of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation, which followed a contentious congressional hearing where she struggled to address concerns about the agency’s failure to prevent the attack. Ronald Rowe, the newly appointed acting director, expressed deep regret over the July 13 incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, calling it “indefensible” that the roof used by the gunman had not been secured.

The survey also highlighted broader concerns, with half of US adults attributing the assassination attempt largely to the country’s growing political divisions. About four in 10 respondents placed significant blame on the Secret Service, while a similar proportion pointed to the widespread availability of firearms as a major contributing factor.

Partisan differences were evident in the poll’s findings, with Democrats more inclined to blame gun accessibility and Republicans more likely to fault the Secret Service for the security lapse.

This poll underscores the heightened anxiety and division in the US as the nation heads toward another contentious election season, with many questioning whether those tasked with protecting the candidates are fully equipped for the challenge.