Embattled Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has firmly stated she has no intention of resigning despite the recent controversy surrounding the agency’s handling of security at a rally where former President Donald Trump was attacked. In a startling admission to ABC News, Cheatle revealed that the agency decided not to guard the rooftop from which Thomas Crooks opened fire on Trump because it was deemed too slanted.
“That building in particular has a sloped roof at its highest point. And so, you know, there’s a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn’t want to put somebody up on a sloped roof,” Cheatle explained. She further stated, “The decision was made to secure the building from inside.”
Look, I get that she’s being damage control talking points, but boy, was she mocked for that claim. When her statement about the roof being too sloped, the internet did not disappoint, mocking Cheatle.
Check some of them out:
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2024
Just a picture of a Secret Service agent standing on the roof of the White House. pic.twitter.com/rSwWE9t716
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) July 16, 2024
“Your mission, should you decide to accept it..”
“Excuse me, but did you just say there’s a sloped roof?” pic.twitter.com/IFt1ABGjAY
— G (@stevensongs) July 16, 2024
Sorry kids. It’s a sloped roof. pic.twitter.com/bJ9BenfZeL
— Jack Fowler (@jackfowler) July 17, 2024
Yeah, the slope of that roof looks really risky to put a Secret Service agent on top of it.
Look at how precarious it is for those guys to stand on. They are barely hanging on for dear life without falling off.
WAY too risky. pic.twitter.com/fDpoq71UdR
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) July 16, 2024
#SlopedRoof #DeepState #SecretService #MAGA #Trump #TrumpAssasinationAttempt
This sloped roof is so dangerous they had to hose down the entire scene before a forensics team faces the danger of the sloped roof!!! SLOPED ROOOOOOOOF!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/JpIwEnKbpb
— Gnome_Sane (@gnomesane2) July 16, 2024
Cheatle acknowledged that the agency was aware the rooftop was a potential security vulnerability but chose not to position agents there. This left the area exposed, allowing Crooks to use the roof as a sniper perch with an unobstructed view of Trump on stage, about 130 yards away.
Tactical operations experts were outraged by Cheatle’s justification. James Gagliano, a retired FBI supervisory special agent and Army veteran, expressed disbelief at her reasoning. “You just have to work with the terrain you’re presented with,” Gagliano said.
Dan Bongino, a popular right-wing talk show host, former Secret Service agent, and NYPD cop, also criticized Cheatle’s explanation. On his podcast, “The Dan Bongino Show,” he mocked her statement: “The Secret Service director said, ‘don’t worry, we didn’t put someone on the roof because it could’ve created a dangerous situation.’ Like what? Someone getting shot in the head?”
Joe Kent, a Washington GOP congressional candidate and former Army Special Forces officer, also voiced his concerns on social media. He questioned why the agency did not secure the building and its access points if the rooftop was identified as a threat. “You can’t get on the roof, but you identified the building/roof as a threat, so what’s the excuse for not securing the perimeter & all access points to the building/roof?” Kent wrote on X.
Cheatle has faced mounting pressure to step down as more details of the agency’s mishandling of Trump’s attempted assassination come to light. She told ABC News that she takes full responsibility for the incident. “The buck stops with me,” she said, but firmly refused to resign. “It was unacceptable. And it’s something that shouldn’t happen again.”
