President Biden has approved military aircraft support and escorts for Donald Trump. 

Threats against the former president have escalated so significantly, including the threat from anti-aircraft missiles provided by state sponsors of terror, that Biden has approved complete presidential-level protection for Trump. This includes protecting his plane from threats. 

BREAKING: Trump’s campaign has requested military aircraft and armored vehicles in response to growing concerns over reported threats against his life. pic.twitter.com/HlIGpwCxrz

— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) October 12, 2024

Since September, there have been reports--unconfirmed as far as I know--that surface-to-air missiles were smuggled into the United States with the intent to take out the former president's plane. After a new intelligence briefing the campaign officially asked for enhanced protection from the Air Force and armored vehicles to be provided to the campaign. 

Biden has approved the request, short of using air-to-air fighter aircraft, which should not be required in any case. Air superiority aircraft are unlikely ever to be necessary since foreign fighter aircraft aren't likely to fly in US airspace. Air Force One doesn't usually have fighter escorts. 

WashingtonCNN — 

After two attempted assassinations and an ongoing threat from Iran, Donald Trump’s campaign has ramped up requests for security, including transport by military aircraft and additional security measures on the ground at the former president’s campaign stops, three sources familiar with the discussions told CNN.

Trump’s campaign wants to use these resources – including access to military aircraft with deterrent systems to protect against surface-to-air missiles – as the former president crisscrosses the US during the final weeks of the presidential campaign.

President Joe Biden, when asked about Trump’s requests on Friday, said they should be fulfilled – “as long as he doesn’t ask for F-15s.”

“I’ve told the department to give him every single thing he needs … as he were a sitting president,” Biden said. “If it fits into that category, that’s fine.”

Susie Wiles, co-campaign manager for Trump, initially made the request for enhanced measures during a call about two weeks ago with Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, two sources familiar with the conversation told CNN. Wiles then made the formal request for additional security with acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe on September 30, according to an email reviewed by CNN.

A third source familiar with Wiles’ call with Zients said Biden’s chief of staff immediately connected Wiles to leadership at the Department of Homeland Security and Secret Service “so she had a direct line.” The source said Zients made clear that the president had directed the Secret Service to provide the highest level of protection for Trump.

The requests from Trump’s campaign also include access to Camp David vehicles for Trump’s primary motorcade as well as access to other military assets, such as drones with thermal monitoring.

It is a bit disturbing that there was such a large gap in time between the request and its approval, although I suspect that was a Ron Row/Alejandro Mayorkas issue, not a Biden-related delay. I have never suspected that Biden himself has been slow-walking protection for Trump. As usual, Mayorkas is at the center of action. 

Two sources close to the campaign said Trump officials are frustrated that the extra protections have not been implemented given the heightened security threats facing the former president, and the campaign has begun implementing some new security measures.

According to one of the sources, Trump has started changing up his routine, taking different planes to events around the country and staying at different properties than he usually would as the 2024 presidential election nears.

The source said Trump’s security team implemented the changes because it had lost faith in the Secret Service following the two attempts on the former president’s life as well as the denial of certain resources in the past. Trump’s team maintains that its concerns are with those at the Secret Service headquarters, not with Trump’s personal detail, many of whom have been with the former president since he left office.

But Trump’s team has also been informed that some of the requests aren’t feasible for any presidential candidate. Trump has complained privately that he is forced to hold smaller rallies because of the security concerns, though every president and presidential candidate has faced restrictions on their freedom of movement because of security concerns, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Security resources are also often determined on a case-by-case basis, one administration official said.

Secret Service management is determined to keep Trump vulnerable, and I think the stumbling blocks are in top management in Homeland Security. In other words, it is the Deep State operatives who are likely the offenders. I think Biden is corrupt, but I doubt he would order the Secret Service to keep Trump vulnerable. Bureaucrats like Mayorkas, though, have the power to approve or deny requests almost anonymously. 

By now, though, I do not doubt that SOMEBODY or somebodies in Homeland Security wants Trump dead.