Conservatives are criticizing the Secret Service after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. They are targeting the agency’s efforts to hire women and calling for the resignation of its leader, Kimberly Cheatle. Right-wing commentators and some Republican lawmakers have claimed that the agency’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies has compromised its essential mission. They specifically criticized the female agents who helped rush Trump off the stage during the incident.
Trump’s Response and Support for Agents
While these criticisms have emerged, Trump himself has not joined in. Publicly, he has expressed gratitude towards the agents present at the rally. He praised them for their quick action, which included shooting the gunman. “They took him out with one shot right between the eyes,” Trump told the New York Post. “They did a fantastic job. … It’s surreal for all of us.”
Trump’s cautious approach to this issue may be influenced by his political strategy. In the 2020 election, he struggled to win support from suburban women, a demographic he hopes to improve with this time around. Comments perceived as disparaging working women could be politically detrimental.
Support from Trump’s Inner Circle
Members of Trump’s inner circle have defended the female agents. Eric Trump, in particular, praised the agents for their bravery. “I know all those agents on stage and they’re the greatest people ever,” he said on MSNBC. “The female that’s in the picture, she was with me for a very long time and she’s one of the greatest human beings you would ever meet. … I laud them for their courageousness because they could’ve gotten killed, as well.”
Despite this, Eric Trump also called for Cheatle’s resignation, while continuing to support the agents’ performance. “They did their job perfectly,” he told Fox. “That female on the stage can outshoot all those guys because I’ve seen her do it. … She would have eaten a bullet for him in a heartbeat.”
