AUSTIN (KXAN) — Saturday is entering the 11th hour before President Joe Biden’s planned visit on Monday in Austin. As of Saturday evening, the president is still expected to be here. However, after a shooting Saturday afternoon at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, increased security measures could be in place.
The Secret Service has had multiple meetings with local police departments, including University of Texas police and the Austin Police Department, about the presidential visit. However, those meetings are behind closed doors and never made public.
While we don’t know specifics, we do know it’s protocol for Secret Service to ask local police about any threats they’re aware of, to things as simple as planned protests. Secret Service generally also shares its knowledge with officers ahead of events.
UTPD and APD declined to comment on meetings when asked by KXAN.
Political consultant Luke Macias told KXAN there is no room for these types of actions, like what happened Saturday in Pennsylvania.
“It’s a very sad day for the United States of America,” Macias said. “It reminds us all while it’s very important that we not use the type of rhetoric that would encourage anyone towards violence. That’s not the way our country has governed, and it’s not the way we have hashed out our political differences.”
The day before a huge visit, either by a sitting president or candidate, security plans are generally finalized. That means Sunday could determine whether or not Biden will still visit Austin. At the time this article was published, no plans have changed.