Two survivors of the July assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump are speaking out, blaming the Secret Service for what they describe as a series of security failures that led to the deadly attack. In a candid interview aired Monday by NBC News, James Copenhaver and David Dutch, both of whom were shot during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, expressed their frustration with the security measures that were in place on the day of the attack.
The tragic event left one man, Corey Comperatore, dead and Copenhaver and Dutch wounded after a gunman opened fire on Trump and the crowd at the rally. Both survivors pointed to what they believe was a hasty and inadequate security operation, allowing the assailant to infiltrate the event.
Dutch, who was shot in the leg during the attack, didn’t hold back his criticism, saying, “Security was absolutely not up to standard. It felt rushed and unorganized. The gunman shouldn’t have been able to get anywhere near us, let alone open fire.”
Copenhaver, who sustained a shoulder wound, echoed those sentiments, describing the security detail as a “rush job” that left too many gaps. “They weren’t prepared. I’ve been to other rallies, and the difference was obvious. This time, the Secret Service missed the mark, and people paid the price,” Copenhaver said during the interview.
Both men expressed sorrow for the loss of Comperatore, the third victim, who was killed in the shooting. His family has not yet commented publicly, but Dutch and Copenhaver voiced their solidarity with the grieving family, emphasizing that this tragedy should never have happened in the first place.
While the Secret Service has not responded directly to the claims made in the NBC News interview, the agency has previously stated that they are conducting a thorough review of the incident and that all appropriate security protocols were followed at the time. Despite this, many rally-goers and political commentators are now questioning the level of protection provided at high-profile political events.
The July attack shocked the nation and sparked renewed conversations about the safety of political figures and their supporters. With Trump continuing to draw large crowds at his rallies, security has become a top concern for event organizers, especially as the 2024 election campaign heats up. The shooting in Butler marked one of the most serious security breaches at a Trump event, raising concerns about the effectiveness of protective measures in place for political figures who are polarizing targets.
As Dutch and Copenhaver continue to recover from their injuries, they hope their story will lead to improved security standards for all future political events. “No one should have to go through what we did. If better precautions had been taken, maybe Corey would still be alive,” Dutch concluded somberly.
