The U.S. Secret Service stated that security threats against President Trump and other senior federal officials are significantly increasing. This statement, coming before the White House Correspondents' Association's annual dinner resumed, has once again brought White House security and drone risks into sharp focus.
Threat incidents are expected to rise to approximately 10,000 by 2026.
A senior Secret Service official stated at a briefing that since 2026, there have been approximately 10,000 threats involving government officials, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year. Those affected include high-ranking federal officials such as Trump and Supreme Court justices.
The official also said that the number of suspects who made threats against protected individuals and were subsequently sent to mental health facilities has increased dramatically, by a factor of ten, indicating that both the number and complexity of cases are increasing.
- There are estimated 10,000 threat incidents in 2026.
- 40% increase compared to the same period last year
- The number of people subject to related disciplinary action increased tenfold.
The attempted attack in April exacerbated security pressures.
The Secret Service's statement came after the White House Correspondents' Association's annual dinner had been rescheduled. The event, originally scheduled for April, had been interrupted when a man carrying multiple weapons attempted to bypass security, at which time Trump was present.
The man was subsequently subdued by Secret Service agents and charged with attempting to assassinate Trump. The incident occurred at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where several high-ranking U.S. government officials were also present in the ballroom at the time.
The Secret Service says the risks posed by drones are "very real."
During the public segment, Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn expressed "great concern" when asked whether drones could be used to attack protected individuals. He stated that such threats would inevitably reach the United States sooner or later.
Quinn noted that security pressures continue to rise with the emergence of fiber-optic controlled drones and more difficult-to-identify models. However, he also stated that the White House is currently "very secure," and the Secret Service has deployed the latest protective technologies at the White House and other key locations.
Trump says he still feels safe
When asked about the incident at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said he felt safe. He has survived several attacks or attempted attacks over the past two years, including the July 2024 shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Around September of the same year, Secret Service agents spotted another armed man outside the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, and opened fire to subdue him. The defendant in that case was later sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted assassination of Trump and other charges.
