Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle acknowledged the agency’s failures in responding to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump but refused to resign from her position.
“It was unacceptable,” Cheatle told ABC News on Monday regarding the agency’s response to the attack at Saturday’s Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pa. “And it’s something that shouldn’t happen again.”
Cheatle has faced mounting pressure to step down after overseeing security at the event where 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fired multiple shots with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle from a nearby rooftop. The attack wounded Trump and two others and killed a former firefighter.
“It was a situation that no Secret Service agent ever wants to encounter in their career,” Cheatle stated.
Despite the severe criticism, Cheatle emphasized her commitment to the role. “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 giving resources to our personnel as necessary,” she said.
Cheatle’s firm stance came amid increasing calls for her resignation from public and political figures who questioned the Secret Service’s preparedness and response to the incident.
When pressed about the possibility of stepping down, Cheatle confirmed she would not resign. Instead, she vowed to improve the agency’s procedures and ensure such failures do not occur again.
The assassination attempt has sparked a broader discussion about the adequacy of security measures for high-profile figures and the accountability of those tasked with their protection.
Cheatle’s refusal to resign highlights her determination to address the issues within the agency and restore confidence in its ability to protect national leaders.
