The failure to protect former President Donald Trump during a rally on July 13, 2024, in Pennsylvania has been described as a significant security failure by the U.S. Secret Service. As you certainly know by now, the incident involved a gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who managed to gain access to a rooftop near the rally site, which was within range of a semi-automatic rifle. The Secret Service and local law enforcement had identified the rooftop as a potential vulnerability before the event. However, no officers were posted on the building, despite its proximity to the rally stage, which was within 150 yards.
The incident raises questions about the Secret Service’s ability to protect high-profile political figures, particularly during large public outdoor events. It has also highlighted the challenges faced by the agency in coordinating with local law enforcement to ensure comprehensive security measures.
This monumental failure shines a spotlight on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DIE) initiatives—yes, we switched the order on purpose—that supposedly exist to ensure a “diverse and inclusive” workforce. Instead of seeking the best and most qualified agents, these left-wing, feel-good initiatives are supposed to foster an environment where all employees, regardless of their backgrounds, skills, and abilities, can have rewarding careers. Who cares if the agency’s focus on diversity has greatly compromised its ability to do its job?
Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the U.S. Secret Service, has been a vocal advocate for DIE initiatives within the agency. Appointed by President Joe Biden in 2022, Cheatle has prioritized attracting and developing a “diverse” workforce. In the wake of last week’s security failure, Cheatle’s focus on DIE has been met with loud criticism from some center-right media figures and politicians. It is not hard to see how this could have been a major factor in their lapse in securing the rooftop Crooks fired from.
Read about that day’s timeline of events HERE.
UPDATE: U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is reporting on his X account that he has learned “that MOST of Trump’s security detail working the event last Saturday were not even Secret Service. DHS assigned unprepared and inexperienced personnel…:
