Hours after a gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a rally on Saturday, experts are questioning the Secret Service’s actions and who is in charge.
Kimberly Cheatle, the 27th director of the United States Secret Service (USSS), was appointed head of the Secret Service by President Biden in 2022, becoming the second woman in history to lead the agency.
“That achievement in a male-dominated industry was memorable to me,” Cheatle told Security Magazine in 2022. Article on “Women in Security.” “I had pictures on my desk of the first five women to be sworn in. I would look at them and remember that these women gave me a chance, and that I too can help others grow and take on leadership roles.”
According to the USSS agency website, Cheatle is responsible for executing the agency’s overall mission of “leading a diverse workforce to protect and investigative services.”
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Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle holds a press conference in Chicago on June 4. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
Cheatle has come under fire from many politicians and members of the public across the country in the wake of the assassination attempt on President Trump, with many calling for her to resign or be fired for putting diversity and inclusion above her job.
“Instead of focusing on keeping leaders like Trump safe, she’s worried about diversity and hiring women. She should be fired and investigated immediately. This is a national security risk,” media personality Benny Johnson said in a post on X.
Did the Secret Service and law enforcement react quickly enough to the assassination attempt?
“The House of Representatives will today conduct a full investigation into this tragic incident. The American people have a right to know the truth, and we will promptly have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and appropriate officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI appear at a committee hearing,” House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote in response to Saturday’s attacks on Trump.
“I have already reached out to the Secret Service and have invited Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to attend the hearing, and the Oversight Committee will be sending out a formal invitation shortly,” Rep. James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, said in a statement about X.
“Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle should be suspended immediately,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said in commenting on X following the attacks on President Trump.
Cheatle enlisted in the USSS in 1995 but retired in late 2019. While serving with the USSS, she was part of the vice presidential guard during the Obama administration and had direct contact with Biden, according to Bill Shipley, a former federal prosecutor who represents people involved in the Jan. 6 events pro bono.
House Oversight Committee asks Secret Service director to testify about Trump assassination attempt
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is expected to take a more active role in addressing security concerns following Saturday’s assassination attempt on former President Trump. (U.S. Secret Service)
“Jill and I know firsthand Kim’s dedication to her job and to her Secret Service officers and mission. We grew to trust her judgment and counsel when she was in charge of my security when I was vice president,” Biden said. Previous statement in 2022. “I have complete confidence in her and look forward to working with her.”
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After Trump was elected president, Cheatle was transferred to the USSS as deputy assistant secretary for training and then assistant secretary for defense operations, a position he held until his retirement in 2019.
Following her retirement from the USSS, Ms. Cheatle served as Senior Director of Global Security for PepsiCo, responsible for leading and implementing security protocols for the company’s facilities in North America. Her role at PepsiCo included risk management assessments and developing risk mitigation strategies.
