RFK Jr. to Receive Secret Service Protection

On Monday, President Joe Biden ordered Secret Service Protection for presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Key Details: Kennedy has argued that he should get government protection in light of his family history; his father, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy, were both assassinated in the 1960s. Former President Donald Trump has also called for Kennedy to get Secret Service protection and reiterated that after the attempt on his life over the weekend.

Key Quotes: “In light of this weekend’s events, the president has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Robert Kennedy Jr.,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. Kennedy said, "Thank you to President Biden for granting me Secret Service protection. And I am so grateful to Gavin deBecker & Associates for keeping me safe for the last 15 months of my Presidential campaign.”

For Context: For about a year, Kennedy has been seeking government protection as he campaigns, and a number of lawmakers have voiced support for this since the Trump rally shooting on Saturday. Congressmen Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) plan to introduce a bill to increase Secret Service protections for each of the presidential candidates, and the Secret Service has vowed to cooperate with congressional oversight.

How the Media Covered it: National Review (Lean right bias) noted that in 2023, an armed man impersonating a U.S. marshal was arrested in Los Angeles at a Kennedy campaign event. AP News (Lean left bias) noted that even though Kennedy is a long shot to win the presidency or get enough electoral votes, his campaign events have drawn large crowds.