Staff Reports
In a twist that feels like a scene straight out of a political thriller, President Joe Biden has come forward to commend Kimberly Cheatle, the former Secret Service Director, for her years of service—this coming just a day after she faced a harsh grilling from lawmakers due to an embarrassing failure to protect former President Donald Trump from an assassination attempt. It’s almost as if Biden is trying to win a consolation prize in a game where everyone else is still wondering how they lost.
In a heartfelt statement that could rival the Oscars for its sincerity, Biden expressed his gratitude for Cheatle’s dedication to public service. He painted a picture of her as a heroic figure, selflessly risking her life to protect the nation. The problem is, it was her agency that just flubbed a chance to ensure that a former president was safe from harm, and now she’s out the door faster than one can say “political scapegoat.” This contrasts sharply with the kind of admiration that one might expect when discussing a director who just resigned amid a storm of bipartisan fury.
President Joe Biden Praises Ex-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle https://t.co/CR4Z1NIAfs
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) July 23, 2024
Biden played up the idea of “honor, courage, and incredible integrity,” qualities he claimed are essential for leaders of such a daunting position. Integrity certainly comes into question, considering Cheatle’s inability to provide answers during a high-stakes hearing about the agency’s colossal oversight. Her repeated deflections to the FBI didn’t exactly inspire confidence among lawmakers, who might have thought they were attending a comedy show rather than a serious investigation into national security.
While Biden attempted to project a sense of stability and resolve by asserting that an independent review into the assassination attempt is ongoing, one has to wonder just how thorough this review can be. With a president ducking inquiries for a beach vacation in Rehoboth while dealing with a bout of COVID—no big surprise in the “down with the ship” category—Biden’s reassurances might come off as little more than a poorly-timed movie trailer for what many suspect to be an impending bureaucratic disaster.
The most entertaining aspect, however, was Cheatle’s stubbornness to cling to her post, claiming she was the “best person” for the job even as the chamber resounded with criticism from both sides. Her resignation, after a day of dodging key questions, plays out like a political script that loses its audience midway through. And for the politicians eager to throw shade, particularly Rep. Pat Fallon, who quipped she should return to less hazardous duties like guarding snack foods, the jokes write themselves.
Biden’s newfound championing of Cheatle feels more like window dressing than genuine commendation. As the search for a new Director begins, one thing is for sure: Change is coming at an agency that really needs a reboot before anyone else feels the need to take drastic action—one can only hope they don’t “accidentally” guard the snack aisle again.
