Expert analysis on security issues, executive protection, and threat assessment for major media outlets.
Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent James Hamilton provides expert analysis on security issues, executive protection, and threat assessment for major media outlets.
James breaks down the growing threat of fraud and caller ID spoofing — how criminals impersonate trusted institutions to deceive their targets — and the safeguards he helps clients put in place every day to recognize and shut these schemes down.
James Hamilton discusses the security posture of law enforcement during President Trump's White House Correspondents' Dinner — analyzing response readiness and lessons learned from the event.
Analyzing the alleged assassin's attempt to breach President Trump's White House Correspondents' Dinner — how concentric rings of security detect, deter, and neutralize layered threats.
James discusses risk assessments and anti-kidnapping strategies for high net worth individuals, walking families through mitigation plans to reduce exposure and avoid abduction scenarios.
James examines the rarity of abduction cases involving elderly victims in America and why the unusual circumstances of this case demand investigative attention.
James discusses why engaging with threatening individuals escalates situations and shares practical de-escalation strategies.
BBC News
Expert analysis of the Charlie Kirk shooting at Utah Valley University.
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Practical family emergency preparedness and active threat awareness training.
Terrorism & Threat Analysis
GB News
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, James Hamilton reflects on serving as an FBI agent during the September 11 attacks — what that day was like from inside the Bureau, and how the world changed in the years since.
GB News
James breaks down the threat posed by an armed man surveilling Trump's golf course, and the law enforcement and Secret Service response that kept the President safe.
The big story yesterday was the director of the Secret Service stepping down following that assassination attempt against former president, US, uh, US president, Donald Trump, current Republican nominee for president, Kimberly Cheatle served as Secret Service director since August of 2022, and had been facing growing calls to resign as several investigations were conducted into how this shooter was able to get so close to the nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Now, two weeks ago or a week ago on Saturday, uh, joining us to chat a little bit about that this morning is James Hamilton, he's a personal security expert and the founder of Hamilton Security Group. Uh, James, thanks so much for joining us this morning. I really appreciate it. Hey, thanks for having me on Andrew. How are you? Not too bad. How about you? I'm great. Thanks.
Well, I'm sure people have, uh, you know, in your industry, I've been watching this very closely just with this resignation, was this inevitable? Did this have to happen? Yeah, I don't know about inevitable. I was happy to see it. I think it's the ultimate form of responsibility. And she said she would take it. And that's to me, uh, a really positive sign. And it's always the toughest part is taking accountability, even if it's not directly your mistake.
So what are you seeing, I guess, since, uh, the information we've seen since come out, since Donald Trump's assassination attempt, I guess, what have you seen that's glaringly stuck out to you? Uh, just a lack of resources, the lack of resources allocated to, uh, to him. Um, they, you know, it's, it's a very similar story with, uh, protective work. You, you never have enough people and those people that you do have, you have to use them smartly. And, uh, I think the testimony yesterday was pretty clear that, you know, they were not allocating, uh, if they do it in a threat-based way, they were not allocating resources effectively, particularly that day in Pennsylvania.
And, and is it troubling, I guess, that we we've learned that the Trump campaign had raised this issue with the secret service before, and not that they were ignored, but they, they didn't put any more manpower into it. Well, I think they did give some, but maybe not to the, you know, the robustness, uh, that they would have liked to have seen, which is always, uh, going to happen. Um, but I think you said it on the intro, you know, they, it was an outdoor event and anyone that's done this at all knows that an outdoor event is, is exponentially more difficult to secure than an indoor event. And so, you know, we, we always say that the, you know, the ending is embedded in the beginning. So it started out, you know, kind of in a very difficult circumstance and obviously it ended in a terribly tragic situation.
Yeah. And in trying to also kind of recognize as well, that there were secret service members that put their lives directly in the line for, for the former president that day as well, uh, covering him from protective gunfire. So there is something to say about the bravery there, but when we look back about 40,000 feet, when you see, you know, the roof where that, uh, shooter ended up sitting up on, is that a flag to you right away? You know, something that's directly in the site where Trump was speaking? Yeah, it would all have been taken into account. I mean, we, we obviously have the benefit of the whole story, right? We all know now that that kid was at 138 yards on that particular roof. Um, in the moment, you know, they were looking at multiple roofs. They were looking at multiple areas where someone could conceal themselves. And, you know, don't forget, we haven't had a sniper attack since 63 ish, you know, for the, at least on the secret service side with Kennedy. So, you know, the, the shift, meaning the agents, they were thinking about, you know, all manner of things, a handgun getting through security, 10,000 people screening, not properly done a guy running up a sound person that wasn't thoroughly checked or, you know, uh, event security person who volunteered to help that day that might cause a problem. I mean, there's so many things that they're thinking about. Certainly those roof lines were part of it. That's why that counter sniper team was deployed. But I think it's unfair to say that they should have been looking exactly at that roof, uh, in the moment, though, there is some communication coming in now that, you know, that someone was tracking a suspicious person. Uh, and if that roof was identified as exactly where he was, and certainly there's, they have to answer the question, you know, why wasn't the sniper team trained directly on that roof in that exact moment? Um, but all very difficult and we have the benefit now of, you know, 20, 20 hindsight.
And it's a good question, right? How difficult is it in that threat environment to, to, you know, make decisions quickly, you know, I'm just, I'm thinking it'd be pure chaos on the ground for a spectator, let alone somebody that's in charge of security. Right. Exactly. It's, it's terribly difficult. I, the only way I can describe it, having done it is, is very similar to like a race car driver, like an F1 driver at the end of the race. You know, just thoroughly exhausted because your senses are on overload. Uh, I mean, it's extremely difficult. Outdoor is especially more difficult than indoor for this exact reason, a long range shot, um, you know, that obviously is, is, you know, something they're going to, I saw it this morning, they said no more outdoor events. Well, okay, that's good. Um, the question must be asked, you know, why an outdoor event versus indoor? Well, because, you know, it's cheaper, you know, the campaign, you know, can, can get a campground in Pennsylvania for a lot cheaper than they could, uh, you know, a big center civic center type deal. Um, extremely difficult and, and lack of resources is always, always going to be the thing.
And then the other aspect of this, and we've heard this for a long time from law enforcement officials, the idea of not to dramatize it, but this lone wolf kind of actor that the, these are kind of the most difficult to kind of predict and get right. Right. It's, it's very hard with one person. They are. And, you know, we don't have, as usual, we don't have a whole lot of information about him being fascinated with Trump beforehand. So he didn't come up on any protective intelligence, you know, assessment. Um, and you know, that begs the question, why does a 20 year old buy an AR 15 and get on a roof and shoot at a former president? You know, like, I mean, that's a, that's a good question. Uh, is that how far we, we have fallen in society? And I think the answer, unfortunately is yes.
Do you think it's okay? This is just a total side note, but do you think it's concerning that we, we kind of lack the motive at this point or that there's any clear information about a motive? It kind of reminds me, if you remember the, the Las Vegas shooting back, uh, with Steven Paddock, where there was just literally no information out there. Does it, does that, I guess, fascinate you in some senses? Um, well, I think that there's always the rush to find motive when, you know, it's hard for them to maybe just accept the fact that some people, you know, want to do violence and they don't need any more motive than that. It doesn't need to be some grand scheme. Uh, like Paddock, great example. We know very, very little about him, but you know, the motive in the moment, I think is not helpful for the people on the ground. And if we learned anything with regards to identifying these people, you know, earlier, I, you know, I, I certainly don't think we've learned a whole lot from Vegas and we don't, haven't learned anything about Paddock and why he did what he did. Other than to say he's, you know, the, the malevolence that exists inside of some humans is, is, is really hard to calculate. And then you see this and now you're, you know, just scratching your head. Um, but this kid clearly wasn't on their radar, uh, which is unfortunate.
Do yourself and people in your industry, do you ever, do you worry about the, the political climate right now? Cause we've been talking about this a little bit. It's crept north of the border as well, not to blame the U S for this, but we've had some other issues with politicians as well. Just this idea that, you know, things seem more violent rhetoric and things like that. Does your industry get concerned about stuff like that? Very much. And I mean, we're both old enough to kind of see that the, the ability or not the ability, but the, uh, the vitriol and the rhetoric is, is so ramped up. I mean, you remember when the Congress U S Congress people were shot at a softball game, um, merely for, you know, expression of political feelings. Um, yeah, the rhetoric is super high and I know politicians are saying we want to tone it down. Um, but do they really, because I'm not, I'm seeing these types of things and, and, you know, now I'm reading that, you know, some people even believe it didn't happen. And well, if, if, if we can't even get to the common ground of, you know, this did happen and this is wrong, regardless of your political affiliation, then I am quite concerned, um, very, very concerned.
It is a quite concerning and we've seen some of those reactions as well, but, uh, James, we'll, we'll leave it there for now. Thank you so much for your time and your candor this morning. I really appreciate it. I appreciate you having me be safe. Thanks. You as well. Uh, James Hamilton, personal security expert, founder of the Hamilton security group, some very fascinating analysis.