I think you are on to something but there are a few details worth discussing.
I think the cost of American healthcare, as you pointed out, can be a problem. But with COVID, specifically, I do not think it was cost-prohibitive because it was free.
There was a deliberate effort by conservative...
This was my assumption as well. It is not unheard of (in fact, I would guess it is pretty common) for a representative to invest in security if they are a high-profile member of congress and they require it. I would also guess that there are many others out there with similar budgets (if not more).
Unfortunately, this doesn't answer the question because we probably don't know. Which is fine, but the distinction could offer interesting possibilities. Since we don't know, I think this article, along with the assumed conclusion, is a nothing sandwich (with chips).
That may be true, but for now, I think the distinction is clear enough that we don't have to compare them to have a meaningful discussion. I am curious how her security budget compares to some of her peers.
This pattern isn't unheard of (in fact, it is pretty common). The president can do the right thing and still take the heaviest criticism despite it not being their fault.