The once highly regarded Security Service is now facing backlash on how it handled a life-and-death situation after Donald Trump was assassinated on Saturday, calling for the resignation of Director Kimberly Cheatle.
The shocking incident occurred two days before Trump was set to formally become the party's nominee before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
The Biden-Appointed Security Service Chief
Cheatle, 53, worked for the Secret Service for 28 years and was involved in the protective detail for then-Vice President Dick Cheney before leaving to become the head of global security at PepsiCo. Cheatle returned to the agency in 2022 when President Biden appointed her to the top position, expressing confidence that she was the best choice to lead the agency during a critical time for the Secret Service.
The Shocking Assassination of Donal Trump
The incident occurred about seven minutes into the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, with thousands of Trump supporters in attendance. The shooting, which had been broadcast live on news channels, showed the 78-year-old ducking down while surrounded by Secret Service agents, who quickly rushed the podium as the shots rang out. The Republican candidate was then escorted off the stage while he raised a fist to the crowd in defiance.
Trump, who is now "doing well," described being shot with a bullet that ripped the upper part of his right ear. He knew something was wrong when he heard a whizzing sound and felt the bullet tearing through his skin, leading to significant bleeding.
A bystander was killed in the shooting, and two others, all identified as males, were critically injured, according to a Secret Service spokesperson.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, a registered Republican according to his voter records, was reportedly armed with an AR-style rifle as he fired from a building a few hundred meters away from the venue. According to agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, Crooks had been shot dead at the scene by a Secret Service sniper.
Special Agent Kevin Rojek noted that investigators only used DNA to identify the suspect, who did not have an ID, and also said that the motive for the assassination attempt remains unclear.
The Secret Service's Scrutiny Over DEI
According to critics, Cheatle failed to implement adequate security measures at Saturday's Trump rally for being too focused on "woke'' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, aiming to have 30% female recruits by 2030. According to CBS News, Cheatle even allowed YouTube influencer Michelle Khare to train with agents as part of this initiative.
According to Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker, the women appeared disorganized during the incident, with one struggling to holster her weapon and another seemingly unsure of her actions. DEI is important, but competence and effectiveness are essential, which was lacking in the situation.
The Secret Service's primary responsibility is to prevent such incidents and quickly move the president to safety. Still, Trump's agents took over two minutes to get him off the podium, which Swecker criticized, especially if there had been a secondary shooter.
The agents even allowed Trump to retrieve his shoes and make a fist pump before escorting him off the stage.
Compared to the Reagan shooting, agents quickly moved him to safety without such delays, with the protective line typically formed by taller agents. In Trump's case, the Secret Service agent in front of him was too short. The Secret Service has traditionally used taller agents who can better block the president and absorb potential threats.
There was a total security breakdown from start to finish. From the security plan for the rally to the response when the shots were fired, Swecker told The New York Post.
According to Representative James Comer's post on X, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability has formally called the Director of the Secret Service to testify before the US House of Representatives on July 22, along with the FBI, the Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security.
🚨BREAKING🚨@RepJamesComer has invited U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify at a hearing on Monday, July 22.
Americans demand answers about the assassination attempt of President Trump. pic.twitter.com/zKia2oIxCf
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