Acting Secret Service Director Calls Trump Shooting Incident a “Failure on Multiple Levels”

During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. described the recent shooting attempt against former President Donald Trump as a “failure on multiple levels.” His comments came after a visit to the site of the July 13 attack in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman used an AR-15-style rifle to shoot Trump and attack rallygoers.
Rowe, who assumed his role on July 23 following Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation, recounted his inspection of the site, stating, “What I saw made me ashamed.” He criticized the inadequate security on the building’s roof, which the gunman had used to launch his attack. “As a career law enforcement officer and a 25-year veteran with the Secret Service, I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured,” Rowe added.
The Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees convened to examine the security lapses that led to the attack. The shooting resulted in one death, two injuries, and Trump being grazed by a bullet. The 20-year-old gunman was killed at the scene.
Senator Gary Peters, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, condemned the attack as “an assault on our democracy” and emphasized the need for secure and safe political environments. Peters, along with Senator Rand Paul, has launched a bipartisan investigation into the security failures.
Rowe’s testimony revealed that neither the Secret Service counter-sniper teams nor Trump’s security detail were aware of the gunman on the roof. He criticized the agency’s assumptions about the safety measures in place and the preparedness of local law enforcement.
FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate provided additional insights, noting that the gunman likely carried the rifle in a backpack but that the investigation has yet to determine how the weapon was transported. The FBI has discovered a social media account linked to the shooter that contains extremist comments but has not yet identified a clear motive or any co-conspirators.
In response to the incident, Congress has taken action. A bipartisan task force, announced by U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, will investigate the attack and deliver a final report by mid-December. Representative Mike Kelly, whose district includes Butler, will lead the task force.
Additionally, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley and Catherine Cortez Masto seeks to require Senate confirmation for Secret Service directors and limit their terms to ten years, aiming to enhance oversight and accountability within the agency.