Optics should never take precedence over safety in contemporary executive protection. However, Bongino contends that the highly politicized atmosphere of today puts more pressure on people to make choices that “look right” than those that are reasonable from an operational standpoint. When applied to high-risk individuals, that change, no matter how slight, can have disastrous results.
This is not an attempt to defend Trump’s political views. Bongino has made it clear that protection does not equate to approval. It’s a duty. In a constitutional system, national stability—rather than individual preference—determines whether current and former presidents are safe. Many people are put in danger when that standard is not upheld because it damages the reputation of the organizations responsible for maintaining the continuity of government.
