Butler, Pennsylvania – Former President Trump has defended the female Secret Service officer who “protected” him during an assassination attempt after she faced fierce online criticism.
“I don’t know why they didn’t get shot,” Trump told a crowd of several thousand at a rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Saturday, recalling bullets flying and security guards rushing to protect him.
“Everybody, none of them were slow. The woman on my right was protecting me,” he said. “She’s a beautiful woman and she did everything she could to protect me. And she got crushed. And she got criticized in the fake news for not being tall enough.”
Trump said the unidentified female agent was “very brave” and “willing to take a bullet” for the 45th president.
“Well, she wasn’t tall enough, because I’m tall and she wasn’t tall enough. She got criticized. She was very brave and protected me through everything. Bullets were flying and she wanted to take the bullets. It’s unbelievable.”
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President Trump spoke at a rally at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota on July 27, 2024. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The female agents have been criticized by online pundits and Trump donors following the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
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“Look at these female agents who have no idea what to do or what they’re doing,” said conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza. I wrote to X In response to the incident, the Secret Service is working to reach its goal of having 30% female hires. This is DEI!
President Trump is surrounded by Secret Service agents during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Female Secret Service agents are seen guarding President Trump following the assassination attempt at the Butler County Fairgrounds on July 13. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Podcaster Matt Walsh wrote in response to the assassination attempt that “there should be no women” in the Secret Service.
“There shouldn’t be women in the Secret Service. They should be the best people in the business, and there are no women among the best people in the business,” Walsh said. Post to X The morning after the assassination attempt: “The fact that a woman is doing this job is simply a sign that a more suitable man was not chosen.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk argued that the Secret Service agents needed to be “big enough” to cover the issue.
“Using a smaller person to cover up a larger man’s body is like wearing an undersized Speedo on the beach – it doesn’t cover the subject,” Musk wrote to X after the incident. “To be clear, it doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman, as long as they’re big enough to fill the role.”
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle arrives to testify before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, Monday, July 22, 2024, on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The Secret Service has faced intense scrutiny following security lapses that led to the shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, by suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Kimberly Cheatle, who had been director of the Secret Service since August 2022, stepped down following bipartisan calls for her to step down immediately after the agency she led allowed Crooks to come within 135 meters (157 yards) of the stage where the former president stood.
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“I take full responsibility for any security failings,” she said in her resignation letter. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down from my position on the board.”
Following the assassination attempt, the House Homeland Security Committee launched a full investigation and issued subpoenas regarding the incident.
