Opening up about the performance of the U.S. Secret Service, former President Donald Trump had a message addressing “every one of them” as female agents in particular faced backlash.
(Video: Fox News)
After a would-be assassin made an attempt on his life, the GOP leader had not shied from his typically large rallies. In fact, after having vowed to press forward with massive outdoor events, the president spoke to the collective bravery displayed on July 13 with a noted callout to the ladies of the Secret Service.
“I don’t know how they didn’t get hit,” remarked Trump Saturday at a rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota as he recalled how “bullets were flying” and the security detail had rushed to shield his body.
“Every one of them — there wasn’t one that was slow. A woman who was on my right, she was shielding me. Beautiful person — she was shielding me, everything she could…And she got criticized by the fake news because she wasn’t tall enough,” detailed the president. “Well, you know, she wasn’t tall enough. Because I’m tall, and she wasn’t tall enough. And she was criticized — she was so brave, she was shielding me with everything, she wanted to take a bullet, because the bullets were flying. Incredible.”
In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy in Butler, Pennsylvania, as questions swirled over how a suspect had been able to get so close to taking the life of a former president, the critical failures of the Secret Service were only magnified by video circulating on social media that appeared to show female agents in disarray.
“When we were watching this footage live I shouted ‘why are there so many damn women in this detail? They’re running around like chickens with their heads cut off!’ And notice the male agents and their focus,” podcast host Kira Davis had posted. “This is NOT A WOMAN’S JOB.”
Far from alone in negatively reacting to the agents seen struggling to holster a sidearm and making a point of putting on sunglasses, the criticism had warranted defense from the diversity-aspiring agency and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas who’d said in part in a statement prior to the resignation of USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle, “Every single day, in communities big and small across our great country, women are serving in federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement. They are highly trained and skilled professionals, who risk their lives on the front lines for the safety and security of others. They are brave and selfless patriots who deserve our gratitude and respect.”
Of course, Trump’s praise for the Secret Service wasn’t without a potshot at the failures that had brought him within centimeters of losing his life in what investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson referred to as the “quote of the day.”
On her X account, Attkisson highlighted, “Trump compliments Secret Service agents from Butler, Penn. rally for their bravery…calling the Secret Service sharpshooter who took out the alleged sniper ‘world class’ adding.. ‘Woulda been nice if it had been earlier..'”
Quote of the day: At rally now, Trump compliments Secret Service agents from Butler, Penn. rally for their bravery…calling the Secret Service sharpshooter who took out the alleged sniper “world class” adding.. “Woulda been nice if it had been earlier..”https://t.co/69vRxmTV5T pic.twitter.com/ShAcDVDUWX
— Sharyl Attkisson ️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) July 28, 2024
Speaking to great jobs all-around, as the president promised to continue holding his large outdoor rallies with stepped up security, Trump complimented the bravery of the crowd for not stampeding when faced with the uncertainty of the situation as many even surveyed the area to help point out the threat.
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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