WAXHAW, N.C. — No one expected a shot to be fired at former President Donald Trump, but even so his security was ready. Some are praising Secret Service and law enforcement for their work keeping Trump safe.
WCCB Charlotte’s Zane Cina spoke with a former politician now living in Waxhaw, N.C. to get a closer look at what former President Trump’s security did right.
Former President Trump’s Secret Service trained endlessly to prepare for the worst. Saturday evening during the former President’s rally in Pennsylvania, that training paid off big.
Steve Russell is a former Oklahoma politician. He served in the U.S. Army and says quick reactions saved not just Donald Trump, but many of his supporters.
No one saw the assassination attempt on former President Trump coming. Russell sees it as proof America is too divided.
“When Americans are shooting Americans, we’ve lost our way. We have to settle everything with ballots, not bullets,” Russell said.
He once served as a Senator and House Representative in Oklahoma, where he warned about the dangers of political radicalization.
“Warning about these very things, and that we needed to be more civilized in our rhetoric, that we needed to be more accommodating and make it about policy, not people,” Russell said.
He saw the footage of former president trump being shot during his rally in Pennsylvania. Russell feels many were saved by those who put themselves in harms way.
Russell is savvy when it comes to security. He served in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel going after Saddam Hussein. He believes America is lucky the 20-year-old would be assassin didn’t have any military training.
“150 yards shot, aiming center mass…that type of round can certainly cause damage, Russell said. “And because he was aiming potentially for the head rather than center mass, thank God he was not a trained shooter.”
Russell does not know what went into the security sweep before the former President arrived, but he did notice snipers on a nearby roof which Russell believes made reacting to shots fired much easier, saving more lives.
Russell speculates more information will come out as authorities continue to investigate.
He reminds that the true heroes are those who put their lives second to Trump and the audience. Russell urges all Americans to use this assassination attempt as an opportunity to put aside differences and come together as a country.