Trump campaign asks for use of military aircraft, vehicles, increased Secret Service protection amid Iran threats, assassination attempts

Donald Trump's presidential campaign has asked for military aircraft to fly in during his rallies and appearances as the election season draws to a close and Election Day looms. He's asked for expanded flight restrictions over his homes, as well. In addition, Trump has requested that ballistic glass be pre-positioned in the battleground states where Trump is set to speak and asked that the campaign be permitted to use military vehicles as part of his detail and for transportation. 

The Washington Post reports that these "requests are extraordinary and unprecedented," and that "no nominee in recent history has been ferried around in military planes ahead of an election." It is also true that no candidate in recent memory has been subjected to two assassination attempts and that campaign advisers received briefings recently that indicate that Iran is still anxious to see Trump dead.

Trump campaign spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said that "Assistance from the Department of Defense is regularly provided for the former president’s protection, to include explosive ordnance disposal, canine units, and airlift transportation." He also said that temporary flight restrictions have been imposed "over the former president’s residence and when he travels."

"Additionally, the former president is receiving the highest level of technical security assets which include unmanned aerial vehicles, counter unmanned aerial surveillance systems, ballistics and other advanced technology systems," he said.

The campaign has told the Secret Service that they are concerned that the US government has been able to provide "extensive enough" plans to protect Trump should there be a third attempt on Trump's life prior to November 5. The campaign isn't the only one offering their worries to the Secret Service, either, The Post reports. Florida Rep. Michael Waltz has also requested that the Secret Service provide "military aircraft or additional protection for Trump’s private plane."

"The Republican nominee has already started traveling with additional planes, and officials are also taking the precaution of dividing his motorcade at times and putting Trump in nondescript planes that do not have his name on the side instead of his longtime 757 jet," The Post reports.

"Trump advisers," The Post reports, "have grown concerned about drones and missiles." Campaign manager Susie Wiles has reached out to acting Secret Service head Ronald Rowe to complain about a recent campaign event cancellation due to the "lack of personnel" from Rowe's agency. The previous head, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned following the first attempt on Trump's life in Butler, PA on July 13. 

Wiles said that Trump, who often holds multiple events in multiple states on the same day, would like to do more as Election Day nears but that the campaign is hindered by the lack of security. The recently canceled event meant that Trump was only able to hold a small event in a room with reporters instead of the larger event the campaign had planned.

Motives for the two would-be assassins have not been revealed, and the first man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed at the scene. Ryan Routh, who staked out Trump's Florida golf course for 12 hours, is in custody awaiting trial. 

In January 2022, an animated video showing a drone strike on a golfing Trump was posted to the web page of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.