Haberman: Threats to Trump drive White House focus as security boost is sought after Kirk incident

Maggie Haberman, a New York Times White House correspondent, said on CNN’s The Arena with Kasie Hunt on Wednesday that threats to Trump’s life—and to people around him—are at the top of the White House’s mind, citing two failed assassination attempts against him last year. She said the White House was “shaken” by those episodes, and that Trump, who was reportedly close to Charlie Kirk, has long seen threats as a primary driver for the administration’s focus.

Haberman noted that the Epstein saga would likely have dominated White House headspace a few weeks ago, but Trump has since made it clear that he is pursuing crackdowns against the left. The administration has requested roughly $58 million in security funding to bolster protection for the president and those around him following the Kirk-related incident.

In a video message from the Oval Office, Trump tied the Kirk case to other acts of violence and argued that political violence is a problem he says is driven by the radical left. He referenced the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year as well as other attacks, including those against federal immigration agents, the shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, and the 2017 shooting that injured then-House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.

Haberman said the Epstein matter would have dominated headspace a couple of weeks ago, but the president’s messaging has shifted toward crackdowns on the left. The alignment of security policy with political messaging illustrates how the White House is navigating threats, public safety concerns, and a highly polarized political environment as it seeks to reassure allies and deter opponents.