Trump stays away from Republican calls for Secret Service director’s resignation after assassination attempt

While Republican lawmakers and Trump loyalists call for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign, former President Donald Trump has not weighed in on the discussion.  

Cheatle, who was appointed by Joe Biden as head of the Secret Service in 2022, made an appearance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. She was confronted by multiple senators on the convention floor.

“This was an assassination attempt! You owe the people answers. You owe President Trump answers,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) shouted at Cheatle as she walked past her at the convention.

Cheatle had met privately with Trump on Tuesday to brief him on the security breakdown that gave a 20-year-old gunman the opportunity to take multiple shots at the former president. 

While many, such as Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), are pointing the blame at the security breakdown to diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates, Trump praised his security detail for bravery during the failed assassination attempt. 

“Bullets began to fly as very brave Secret Service agents rushed to the stage, and they really did,” Trump said in his acceptance speech at the RNC on Thursday. “They rushed to the stage. These are great people at great risk, I will tell you.”

Trump described how the agents pounced on top of him, shielding him as bullets flew by.

“I felt very safe because I had God on my side,” Trump said.

Trump’s son Eric shared in an interview with MSNBC’s Katy Tur at the Republican National Convention that he had the utmost respect for his father’s Secret Service security detail, particularly for the female agent who is pictured in the now iconic photo of Trump pumping his fist in the air.

“The female that is in the picture, she’s been with me for a very long time,” Eric Trump said. “I’d do anything for her. She’s one of the greatest human beings you’ll ever meet. I’d do anything for her.”