The US Secret Service did not previously view civilian drones as a threat to high-ranking officials until the assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2024, which utilized a drone in its planning.
According to a US government audit, the Secret Service has been addressing incidents involving civilian drones since at least 2015. At that time, a drone came dangerously close to President Barack Obama's motorcade in Hawaii. In 2016, another drone flew approximately 60 meters above attendees at a campaign rally for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Several other quadcopter drones were also spotted during President Joe Biden's inauguration in Washington, D.C., in January 2021.
The report indicates that security regulations to protect high-ranking officials were updated only after Trump's assassination attempt in 2024.
The audit also revealed that 8 out of 22 security regulations were not reviewed within the required timeframes, even though updates are mandated every four years. Notably, one regulation concerning the international travel security of the US Vice President had not been updated since July 2001.
On July 13, 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt during an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was grazed by a bullet on his ear, one rally attendee was killed, and two others were injured.
According to the Secret Service, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired shots from the rooftop of a building outside the rally area and was killed at the scene.
Crooks used a drone to plan Trump's assassination attempt, launching the drone unobstructed only hours before the rally to survey the area.