The Secret Service needs to “tighten up” and rethink their security protocols after a suspected gunman stormed a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner over the weekend, Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday.
The shooting raised doubts about the security protocols at Saturday’s event, where high-level government officials, including President Donald Trump — and the immediate two politicians in the presidential succession line, Vice President JD Vance and Johnson — were in attendance.
“From a layman’s perspective, it looked a little lax in terms of getting into the building,” Johnson told Fox News on Monday morning. “I didn’t see the magnetometers, but it doesn’t sound like it was sufficient.”
Johnson, alongside Cabinet secretaries and high-level government officials, entered the Washington Hilton through a back entrance with their own security details, he said.
This marks the third time in three years that a gunman has apparently threatened Trump’s life. Details are still emerging about the suspect’s motives, but law enforcement believes he was targeting administration officials “likely including the president,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said — calling the event a “a massive security success story.”
The alleged shooter is set to make his first court appearance later Monday. Trump has publicly praised the quick response of law enforcement and security personnel on site at the Washington hotel where the event was hosted.
“The president has said, he believes the protocols worked,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on Monday afternoon. “Secret Service did their jobs well. They communicated with one another to remove the president and the vice president to safety as quickly as they could and, obviously, to neutralize the shooter.”
The Secret Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“This can’t go on,” Johnson told Fox News. “[Trump] is the most attacked, maligned political figure in history. He’s very resilient, but he needs greater protection. I think there will be a close reevaluation of how we handle these large events.”
This week, White House leadership will discuss security protocols for Trump’s events with the Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security leadership and others, especially as he gears up for a roster of America 250 celebrations this summer.
Meanwhile, House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) will review Saturday’s shooting and hold a hearing with the Secret Service “soon,” Johnson said.
“We’ll do what we can in Congress,” Johnson said, “but we need leaders of the Secret Service to tighten up and reevaluate these things. That critique is right.”
