Secret Service target of misogynistic backlash after Donald Trump assassination attempt

Right-wing commentators and politicians have swiftly pointed fingers at diversity and inclusion policies, holding them responsible for alleged security shortcomings within the Secret Service. This criticism arose just hours after Secret Service agents bravely protected former President Donald Trump from an attempted assassination.

Matt Walsh, a right-wing commentator, was quick to voice his disapproval on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Walsh posted a video showing three female agents escorting Trump into an SUV, with the caption: "There should not be any women in the Secret Service. These are supposed to be the very best, and none of the very best at this job are women."

The agency’s perceived failings in preventing the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania have sparked a wave of similar misogynistic comments from prominent figures on the right. Elon Musk, the owner of X, claimed that the women on Trump’s detail were too "small" to effectively protect him and suggested they were not selected based on merit. Additionally, hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies for the incident.

This backlash has extended beyond social media. Republican Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee, who is known for his controversial statement following a school shooting in his state, told Fox News that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was a "DEI initiative person." Burchett implied that prioritizing diversity over competence had led to the security breach. He, along with other critics, pointed to Cheatle’s goal of ensuring that 30% of the agency's staff is female by the end of the decade.

Burchett, who serves on the Republican-led House Oversight Committee, is scheduled to question Cheatle about the assassination attempt in a hearing on Monday. Despite Cheatle’s extensive career in the Secret Service, this scrutiny highlights the ongoing debate about DEI initiatives within national security.

Ahead of the hearing, Cheatle faced further criticism after stating in an ABC News interview that the “sloped roof” from which the shooter fired posed a safety concern, leading to the decision not to station law enforcement on the rooftop.

Advocates for greater diversity in national security have expressed concern about the harmful impact of such sexist rhetoric. Gina Bennett, a former CIA officer with 34 years of experience and a proponent of women's inclusion in defense, argued that this kind of commentary emboldens others who harbor similar sexist views. “It perpetuates acceptable sexism, racism, and misogyny, as people become desensitized to it,” Bennett stated.

The Secret Service has not responded to these allegations, but it has previously asserted that all agents, regardless of gender, must meet the same rigorous standards. A spokesperson for Burchett reiterated his stance, emphasizing, “The Congressman has said many times: Put the best player in, coach.”

The criticism of the Secret Service's DEI efforts, supported by figures like former Attorney General William Barr and Republican Congressman Cory Mills, who is also a former army sniper, is part of a broader assault on diversity and inclusion policies by Trump’s allies in Congress, the judiciary, and educational institutions.

Despite opposition from the Biden administration, the most recent National Defense Authorization Act included a provision that prohibits the establishment of new DEI positions within the defense department, employing personnel specifically for crafting DEI policies, or measuring the outcomes of such initiatives.

While female special agents have been part of the Secret Service for over fifty years, it is only recently that Republican politicians have targeted the agency's recruitment policies. Earlier this year, the House Oversight Committee raised concerns about DEI policies in a letter to Cheatle following an incident involving a Secret Service agent on Vice President Kamala Harris’s protective detail. The agent was removed from duty after allegedly attacking her superior, leading to questions about the hiring and screening process and whether DEI efforts influenced these decisions.

The Secret Service has faced numerous scandals in the past, often involving male agents, such as incidents of procuring prostitutes in Colombia and drunk driving near the White House. However, the response to the Trump incident has focused on physical attributes to criticize an entire demographic, noted Lauren Bean Buitta, founder of Girl Security, an organization advocating for diversity in the security sector.

Bennett, now a teacher at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies, challenged the notion that gender affects one’s ability to perform security tasks, stating, “Someone needs to show me the medical evidence that having a uterus makes one less capable of identifying and neutralizing threats.”

Despite the backlash against DEI, there has been a significant increase in young women pursuing careers in national security, according to Girl Security. Buitta emphasized the importance of presidential campaign leaders condemning sexist remarks, warning that such rhetoric could incite further hatred. 

Nonetheless, the vitriol directed at the women in Trump’s security detail seems to have already had an impact. As Trump appeared at the Republican convention in Milwaukee on Monday evening, he was surrounded exclusively by male Secret Service agents.