Staff Reports
Donald Trump stormed back into the Republican National Convention this week, flanked by an all-male Secret Service detail. This robust team was a sharp contrast to the scene at his Pennsylvania rally, where the former president narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, surrounded by a different kind of security team.
Trump’s new security cadre comes after a disastrous showing by his previous detail. During the rally, several female Secret Service agents appeared woefully unprepared to protect the former president when chaos erupted. Critics argue these agents were hired based on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives rather than their ability to handle high-stakes situations.
There's Something Different About Trump's Secret Service at the RNC
https://t.co/n4FqDhZj9p— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 17, 2024
The rally footage speaks for itself. One female agent fumbled with her holster, another looked lost and confused, while a third struggled to handle her weapon. FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker noticed these blunders, stating that none of the agents seemed to know what they were doing. It doesn’t take an expert to see that these women were not adequately trained for such a crucial role.
Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle quickly attempted damage control, claiming that the agency would adapt its operations to ensure Trump’s safety moving forward. However, this was merely a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. Facing calls to resign over her leadership’s evident failures, Cheatle assured the public that changes had been implemented, resulting in the all-male security detail seen at the RNC.
Cheatle’s push for DEI within the agency came back to haunt her. Her previous comments about increasing the number of women in the Secret Service to 30 percent by 2030 now look like a dangerous gamble. Adding fuel to the fire, Cheatle got her top job due to her cozy relationship with First Lady Jill Biden, despite spending a mere three years as PepsiCo's senior director of global security. It’s becoming apparent that qualifications took a back seat to political connections and trendy buzzwords, risking the security of one of America's most prominent political figures.
