On Tuesday, in an interview with CNN, Cheatle, the director of the U.S. Secret Service, acknowledged the agency’s sole responsibility for security at Trump’s recent rally in Pennsylvania. She stated, “The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary.”
However, on Wednesday at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Cheatle was confronted by Republican Senators Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and John Barrasso of Wyoming for her inaction during the attempted assassination of Trump. Video footage shows Blackburn and Barrasso demanding answers and following Cheatle around the event.
One senator is heard saying, “You owe the people answers! You owe President Trump answers!” Another senator chided Cheatle for doing nothing despite knowing “an hour out” that a “potential threat” was present at the rally. Cheatle did not provide a satisfactory explanation, causing outrage from the senators.
The unsuccessful assassination attempt, in which Trump was shot in the ear, left one attendee dead and two others injured. Yet Cheatle seemed dismissive and uncooperative when questioned about the incident. In a luxury suite before the confrontation, Cheatle had refused to resign and provided no explanation when Barrasso asked her why the former president was put in harm’s way. Barrasso even accused Cheatle of stonewalling, saying, “This is exactly what you were doing today on the call.”
Cheatle’s response to the senators’ confrontations was to state, “I don’t think that this is the forum to have this discussion.” But the senators were not satisfied and followed her, with Barrasso telling her, “We can find a place to go right now.”
????FULL VIDEO: Secret Service Director REFUSES to answer to the American people. pic.twitter.com/MPVOke5zhY
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) July 18, 2024
The audacity and lack of accountability displayed by Cheatle and the Secret Service in this situation is unacceptable. As Blackburn stated, it is the Secret Service’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the President at all times. It is their duty to prevent any potential threats from reaching the President.
It is clear that Cheatle and the Secret Service failed in their duty to protect Trump at his rally. They were aware of a potential threat on the roof of the building 20 minutes before Trump took the stage, yet no action was taken to address the situation. This negligence resulted in Trump being shot and innocent people being injured.
The American people deserve answers, especially President Trump. Cheatle’s attempt to deflect and avoid accountability during the RNC is unacceptable. As a nation, we should demand a thorough investigation into the Secret Service’s handling of the situation and hold them accountable for their failure to protect the President.
Secret Service Director Cheatle should be held responsible for one of the greatest security failures in the history of the agency.
She can run but she cannot hide. @aishahhasnie pic.twitter.com/QOmMgIo70x
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) July 18, 2024
Cheatle’s nonchalant attitude and lack of responsibility displayed during the confrontation with the senators is distressing. The safety and well-being of the President should be the top priority for the Secret Service, and their failure to prevent the assassination attempt on Trump is unacceptable. The American people and President Trump deserve answers, and the Secret Service must be held accountable for their negligence.