American Presidents are just about the most securely protected people on earth. They are surrounded by one of the most highly trained security force anywhere; the Secret Service.

Even before a candidate wins the Presidency, they are protected by the Secret Service. These agents are highly trained, highly professional, ready to do whatever is necessary to protect the lives of the President, Vice President, their families and other key government officials.

Presidents rely on the Secret Service every day and every night. They trust them.

So why in the world does-elect President Trump have plans to keep his own private security force after his inauguration?

Politico reports that even as Trump has continued to hold his campaign-style rallies, he has kept his private security force on duty, along with the Secret Service. Those who are close to the incoming administration say that he has no plans to let them go.

This is not only a break with prior practice, it makes it harder for the Secret Service to actually do its job. Security professionals warn of confusion and mixed messages when two separate forces are trying to secure one venue or one person.

Keith Schiller is a retired New York City police officer. He is a Navy veteran who began working as Trump’s bodyguard. Now he’s the head of Trump’s private security force some 17 years ago. He is close to his boss. He as loyal as your favorite guard dog.

Scholler is the guy who Trump in charge of Trump’s private security force.

So what’s the deal? Why does Trump want his own guys in place?

For an answer, we might look to Trump’s good buddy, Vladimir Putin, who also keeps his own private group of loyalist goons by his side. He, like other insecure dictators, wants to keep his own people next to him because he doesn’t trust anyone else. Putin fears a coup from inside of Russia. He fears an internal uprising. He fears an attempt by the West to overthrow him.

He wants people around him who are more loyal to him than to any government or constitution.

Yeah. He’s a dictator.

Like Putin, Trump is completely incapable of tolerating any group that questions his power. Like Putin and other dictators around the globe, Trump wants to be able to stifle any and all dissent. The Secret Service is unlikely to allow Trump’s rally crowds to sucker punch a protestor, but his own private troops would have no constraints about doing just that.

If people at a Trump rally decided to turn against the “dishonest scum” of the press, the Secret Service wouldn’t let it happen.

A private gang of loyalist mercenaries would be far more likely to let it go.

Donald Trump plans to keep his own private security force on duty, in spite of past precedent. In spite of the reservations of the actual Secret Service. In spite of the fact that it might actually make him less safe.

Donald Trump, just like Vladimir Putin, wants to keep a line of loyal bullies between himself and anyone who questions him.

If that doesn’t scare you, nothing will.

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons.