Secret Service Director Sean Curran stated that threats against full-time protectees increased by just over 40 percent compared to the previous year during a special joint interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday. Curran described the surge as a "massive increase" that he has never seen before. He appeared alongside Deputy Director Matt Quinn to discuss the factors driving the rise in threats against the presidency and agents.
When host Norah O'Donnell asked if President Donald Trump's polarizing status contributed to the increase, Curran emphasized that the Secret Service is an apolitical organization sworn to protect its assigned individuals. Quinn attributed the growth partly to mental health issues and noted that social media changes people compared to twenty years ago. The directors did not specify whether threats originated from left-wing or right-wing sources, explaining that they do not categorize threats in that manner. They cited concerns stemming from both the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and assassination attempts against Trump.
Curran, who served as the lead agent protecting Trump during the first assassination attempt against him in 2024, addressed reports regarding a plane switch for Air Force One in August. He stated that using a decoy aircraft is not a new tactic, though he did not confirm if it had been used prior to this specific incident. He expressed concern that public reporting compromises future operational security. Quinn defended the decision to leave agents behind in the decoy plane, asserting that the priority in any protective detail is the president, above staff, media, and other personnel.
The interview occurred while the Secret Service faces scrutiny following the placement of three officials on leave in August. Separately, the FBI has hesitated to release documents related to the investigation into the assassination attempt on Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Thomas Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, criticized the Department of Justice's processing speed for these records. Fitton told Fox News Digital that at current rates, the process would take 12 years, meaning challenges to withheld documents would not be possible until that time. He called this timeline unacceptable and questioned what FBI and DOJ leadership thinks about the position. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.