The July 13 Incident and Its Aftermath
On July 13, the 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to get within 135 meters (157 yards) of the stage where Trump was speaking before opening fire. This incident occurred despite heightened security due to a prior threat on Trump’s life from Iran. Cheatle admitted that the Secret Service had received multiple warnings about a suspicious person before the rally and had identified the roof from which Crooks fired as a potential vulnerability. However, she could not explain why no agents were stationed on the roof.
Trump was quickly escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents, and snipers killed the shooter. The attack resulted in the former president sustaining a pierced ear, the death of one rallygoer, and critical injuries to two others. Cheatle reiterated the gravity of the security lapse, telling the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, “The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13th is the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades. As the Director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse.”
Details continue to emerge about the events of that day and the roles of both the Secret Service and local authorities in the security arrangements. The agency typically collaborates with local law enforcement to secure event perimeters. Former top Secret Service agents have criticized the handling of the incident, stating that the gunman should never have gained access to the roof.
Two days after the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressed his full support for Cheatle, saying, “I support Cheatle 100%.” However, calls for accountability came from across the political spectrum, with congressional committees launching investigations and issuing subpoenas. Top Republican leaders in both the House and Senate demanded Cheatle’s resignation, and President Biden ordered an independent review of the rally’s security.
In an interview with ABC News two days after the shooting, Cheatle stated she had no plans to resign, calling the shooting “unacceptable” and emphasizing the Secret Service’s responsibility for the former president’s protection: “The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service.”
Cheatle’s Career and Legacy
Kimberly Cheatle served in the Secret Service for 27 years before taking a security executive position at PepsiCo in 2021. President Biden asked her to return in 2022 to lead the agency, which has a workforce of 7,800 special agents, uniformed officers, and other staff. She took on this role amid controversy over missing text messages from the time of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
During her tenure, Cheatle was the first woman to be named assistant director of protective operations, overseeing a $133.5 million budget for the division responsible for protecting the president and other dignitaries. She became the second woman to lead the agency. President Biden, upon her appointment, praised her judgment and counsel, noting her service on his detail when he was vice president.
Cheatle’s resignation marks a significant moment for the Secret Service as it grapples with the fallout from the July 13 assassination attempt. The agency faces continued scrutiny and the challenge of restoring confidence in its ability to protect current and former presidents during a crucial period in American politics.
