Secret Service approval declines after Trump assassination attempts

Lack of trust in the agency, once top of government approval lists, revealed in latest report Gallup A poll of public opinion on federal agencies has found growing discontent with the agency charged with protecting presidents and other top officials.

Gallup found that Secret Service approval has fallen by more than half from a peak of 69% in 2019. Before the first Trump assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, Secret Service approval was at 55%. Now it’s just 32%.

That percentage could fall further, largely because the poll was conducted while Trump was playing golf at his Mar-a-Lago resort just before the latest assassination attempt in Florida.

Congress and the FBI are investigating both assassination attempts on Trump, and initial findings suggest the Secret Service mishandled its role.

In Butler, a shooter managed to fire one shot, hitting Trump in the ear and another killing a Trump rally supporter. The shooter was killed after firing more shots. In Florida, the Secret Service shot a suspected assassin after a rifle barrel was seen sticking out of the bushes.

After the first attempt, the Secret Service underwent a staffing change, but this did not end public concerns about the security agency.

Gallup’s analysis was devastating for the institution.

“The Secret Service’s motto is ‘worth inspiring trust and confidence,’ but the American people are not buying it right now,” he said. “Since the first assassination attempt on Trump in July, the agency has been the target of bipartisan criticism and public ratings of the agency have deteriorated significantly. It’s unclear whether the second assassination attempt will change the Secret Service’s ratings. But the latest attempt on Trump’s life is certain to bring increased scrutiny to the agency and its policies.”