Two FBI investigators are examining the location where the attacker shot former US President Donald Trump. Photo: Getty.
On July 13th (US time), Thomas Crooks (20 years old, from Pennsylvania) fired three shots from a rifle before being immediately shot and killed by US Secret Service snipers. Although former US President Donald Trump only suffered a wound to his right ear, he was in real danger.
Accordingly, the US Secret Service is facing numerous questions regarding its response to the failed assassination attempt on Mr. Trump.
Former President Trump suffered only a minor injury to his right ear, thanks to turning his head just in time when Crooks pulled the trigger. The first bullet grazed his ear, narrowly avoiding a fatal wound. Crooks' next two shots missed their target, demonstrating poor marksmanship and a loss of control under pressure.
Security expert John Cohen, a former official of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, commented: "The Secret Service's swift response is commendable, but what's concerning is why they didn't detect and stop the attacker sooner." The question is why a stranger with a rifle was able to get so close to the former president without being detected.
Kimberly Cheatle, Director of the U.S. Secret Service, said safety concerns prevented agents from going onto the roof of the building from which the assassin had fired at former President Donald Trump.
Ms. Cheatle explained to ABC News: "That building has a sloping roof at its highest point. So safety was a consideration, and we didn't want to put anyone up there. The decision was made to protect the building from the inside."
Experts' opinions
US snipers shot and killed a suspect in an attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump. Photo: WSJ.
According to RT, experts do not believe the truth in Cheatle's explanation. Joe Kent, a former US Army Special Forces officer and currently running for Congress , questioned why the Secret Service did not secure the entrances to the building where the suspect opened fire.
Dan Bongino, a former U.S. Secret Service agent, said: "The Secret Service director said, 'Don't worry, we're not putting anyone on the roof because it could create a dangerous situation.' How dangerous? Like someone getting shot in the head?"
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged that the Secret Service's "failure" contributed to the attempted assassination, but he still expressed "100% confidence" in Cheatle.
Criticism of the security team.
Responding to questions about several witnesses seeing suspicious behavior from the gunman and alerting security forces before he opened fire on Mr. Trump, Ms. Cheatle said that it was "a very short time" to be able to respond.
"I don't have all the details yet, but it was a very short period of time. Identifying the suspects, recognizing them, and ultimately neutralizing them all happened in a very short time, and that situation was extremely difficult," Cheatle further explained.
According to the Director of the US Secret Service, the Secret Service's only responsibility is to protect the inner perimeter, the area where Trump is approached, while the building the suspect used as a shooting range is the responsibility of the local police.
"In this particular case, we divided the support in protecting the site, with the Secret Service responsible for the interior perimeter. Then we sought support from local forces for the exterior. There were local police officers inside the building, and there were local police officers in the area responsible for the outer perimeter of the building," Cheatle added.
The reaction of politicians
The investigation is ongoing to determine how Crooks was able to get so close to Trump undetected. President Joe Biden condemned the attack and called for unity, stressing that violence should have no place in politics.
Republican leaders also expressed concern and called for increased security for politicians. They stressed that the attack was a reminder of the importance of protecting leaders from threats.
The failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has raised many questions about the effectiveness of the U.S. Secret Service in protecting politicians. While their swift response prevented more serious consequences, the failure to detect the attacker sooner has fueled security concerns. Experts and politicians are calling for stronger measures to ensure the safety of leaders in the current political climate.
NHAT DUY (According to RT)
Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/mat-vu-my-len-tieng-viec-lot-lo-hong-vu-am-sat-hut-ong-trump-20424071809520902.htm
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