Staff Reports
The resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has sparked a wave of speculation, amusement, and yes, a touch of schadenfreude among conservatives. It’s not every day that an agency tasked with protecting the former President takes a serious hit to its credibility, but Cheatle’s abrupt departure is enough to leave many wondering what exactly went wrong. The resignation, coming a day after a disastrous congressional hearing, highlights glaring security shortcomings during an assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Apparently, no one bothered to tell Cheatle that her job involved protecting the man who arguably drew the largest crowds in modern political history.
During her rather uncomfortable appearance before the House Oversight Committee, Cheatle had the rare and unfortunate distinction of admitting that the July 13 attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, represented a monumental failure for the Secret Service. Never mind the sworn duty to keep the commander-in-chief safe; Cheatle confessed it was the “most significant operational failure” the agency had seen in decades. Her lack of answers to key questions from lawmakers only added fodder to a bipartisan pressure cooker that ultimately boiled over, leading to her resignation.
Donald Trump on Secret Service Director's Resignation: ‘She Never Gave Me Proper Protection’ https://t.co/WvFwkjBkIo
— Biff Smallberries (@B_Smallberries) July 23, 2024
As the story goes, Trump was minding his own business, pumping fists and engaging with a crowd, when he was shot in the ear by a now-late 20-year-old. The whole scene sounds like something out of an action movie, with heroism and tragedy intertwining. The unfortunate Corey Comperatore, a former Pennsylvania fire chief, sacrificed his life in a bid to protect his daughter from flying bullets, while two others were critically injured. Safe to say, the Secret Service wasn’t exactly winning any gold stars that day.
In a spirited post-resignation reflection, Trump couldn’t help but point fingers, remarking that Cheatle and her agency “never gave me proper protection.” His comments hint toward an ongoing theme that permeates the concerns among conservatives: if the Secret Service had provided adequate security, maybe Trump wouldn’t have the dubious honor of declaring he took a bullet for democracy. The former president seemed to take both pride and sorrow in his unfortunate experience, telling outlets that all he ever wanted were the resources to match his iconic following.
Amid the fallout, Trump seized the opportunity to toss some blame onto the Biden administration, claiming it failed to provide—surprise, surprise—the protection he deserved. The irony of a guy who made “build the wall” his slogan now whining about being left defenseless wasn’t lost on anyone watching the spectacle unfold. As Trump put it, those huge crowds deserve serious security, not half-hearted efforts that leave the man exposed and exposed to flying projectiles.
In the background, Cheatle’s resignation letter read more like an apology tour than a proud farewell. With her admission of failure and acceptance of “full responsibility,” one couldn’t help but wonder how many more political careers would be derailed if every government official chose to take the blame for their mismanagement instead of scrambling to save face. Maybe the Secret Service should focus on actual security rather than bureaucratic jargon, especially when lives are on the line.
