The attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday afternoon has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the former president and rally attendees. During Trump’s speech, a sniper on a nearby rooftop fired shots, leaving Trump injured and at least one attendee dead before Secret Service agents could neutralize the threat.
In the aftermath, many, including Elon Musk, took to social media to demand the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle. “Extreme incompetence or it was deliberate,” Musk stated. “Either way, the SS leadership must resign.” Musk’s comments came in response to a tweet from Human Events’ Jack Posobiec, who questioned how a sniper with a full rifle kit managed to position himself on the closest roof to a presidential nominee.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, under whose agency the Secret Service operates, also faced criticism. Musk, again responding to Posobiec, suggested that Mayorkas “ought to be in jail.” Following the incident, Musk endorsed Trump for president, marking a shift from his previous stance of staying out of politics.
Eyewitnesses at the rally reported trying to alert law enforcement about the sniper on the roof moments before the shooting. As shots were fired, Trump clutched his ear, realized what was happening, and dove under the podium, while Secret Service agents rushed to shield him.
As the head of the Secret Service, Cheatle is under intense scrutiny for this security failure. She is the 27th director of the agency and previously served as Senior Director in Global Security for PepsiCo, where she oversaw the security of the group’s North American facilities. Prior to that, Cheatle had a long tenure with the Secret Service.
Cheatle has been called to testify before the House Oversight Committee on July 22, shortly after the Republican National Convention (RNC). In a letter to Cheatle, Oversight Committee Chair James Comer stated, “The Committee on Oversight and Accountability has initiated an investigation into today’s assassination attempt on President Trump and requests your voluntary appearance at a full Committee hearing on July 22, 2024.”
The Secret Service is also responsible for security at the upcoming RNC, where Trump is expected to formally accept his party’s nomination for president in 2024. The agency has released a map of the convention area and is coordinating with local elected leaders and law enforcement to ensure security.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson commented, “Closer to the convention, when the plan is finalized, we’ll share more information about the multi-layer buffer that will be in place. I want this to be a safe convention this summer in Milwaukee. At the same time, downtown Milwaukee will be open for business and for entertainment as well.”