Former Secret Service officials are raising urgent concerns about unsophisticated attacks targeting President Trump, following a deadly breach at Mar-a-Lago where agents shot and killed an armed intruder who stormed the property with a shotgun.

Third Major Security Incident in Two Years

Austin Tucker Martin, a 21-year-old from North Carolina, drove through Mar-a-Lago’s north gate carrying a shotgun and a gasoline can. When ordered to drop his weapons, Martin released the gas can but raised his shotgun toward officers. Secret Service agents and a local deputy immediately opened fire, killing him at the scene. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were in Washington during the incident.

This marks the third high-profile security encounter involving Trump since July 2024. A gunman previously opened fire at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally, grazing Trump’s ear and killing an attendee. In September 2024, an armed man with a rifle was confronted near Trump’s golf course while he played.

Low-Tech Attacks Present Greatest Challenge

Former Secret Service agent William Gage told Fox News that Trump faces unprecedented threat levels as president. He emphasized that simple, unsophisticated attacks prove most difficult to prevent. These attackers use basic weapons and lack formal training, making them nearly impossible to identify in advance. Gage warned that media coverage of these incidents creates a dangerous copycat effect, allowing potential threats to study and refine attack methods.

Security Systems Worked as Designed

Former senior special agent Don Mihalek defended the Secret Service response, noting that Martin never reached Trump’s actual residence. Agents confronted the intruder within seconds of his breach, demonstrating that security layers functioned properly. Mihalek reminded that presidents typically face approximately 2,000 threats annually, most resolved privately before public awareness. He suggested the social media era amplifies perceptions of increased danger, though the fundamental security challenges remain consistent with historical presidential protection requirements.