Former President Trump has refuted the Secret Service director's explanation that the roof from which the assailant fired shots at him was sloped, claiming it was "essentially a flat roof." Trump raised questions about the security measures and expressed concerns about the investigation into the assassination attempt.
Former President Donald Trump has disputed the Secret Service director's explanation that the roof from which the assailant fired shots at him during a rally in Pennsylvania was sloped, asserting that it was "essentially a flat roof."
In an interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters, Trump questioned the Secret Service's security arrangements, expressing concerns about the alleged shooter's ability to gain a clear view of him from the rooftop.
Trump Dispute's Secret Service's Sloped Roof Explanation: 'Essentially a Flat Roof'
"I noticed that she [Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle] said, well, this is a slope roof where you think of like a barn where you have, this thing had just a little -- a little upswing in it, a few degrees. This was a not -- it essentially was a flat roof," Trump remarked.
Cheatle had previously told ABC News that the building had a "sloped roof at its highest point," posing safety concerns for Secret Service agents positioned on top. However, Trump argued that the roof was not significantly sloped and that he believes Cheatle received "false information."
Trump Dispute's Secret Service's Sloped Roof Explanation: 'Essentially a Flat Roof'
Trump also questioned why he was not advised to remain off the stage for a brief period before commencing his speech, especially given concerns about potential threats.
"You have to answer why couldn't I have stayed off the stage for five minutes while they do their work? Why couldn't, you know, how does a situation happen where a roof that's plainly in sight from the location where I was speaking… why would somebody not have seen that?" he asked.
Trump Dispute's Secret Service's Sloped Roof Explanation: 'Essentially a Flat Roof'
Trump expressed his appreciation for the Secret Service agents who swiftly protected him during the attack, noting that his ear injury was healing well.
"We're getting down to the small bandages. But it was a nasty one. And it was nasty, period," he said.
Trump Dispute's Secret Service's Sloped Roof Explanation: 'Essentially a Flat Roof'
Meanwhile, Secret Service Director Cheatle appeared before the House Oversight Committee on Monday to address the security lapses that led to the assassination attempt. She acknowledged that it was the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.
Following Cheatle's testimony, Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., called for her resignation, citing her failure to provide satisfactory answers and reassure the public about the agency's response to the incident.
Trump Dispute's Secret Service's Sloped Roof Explanation: 'Essentially a Flat Roof'
The investigation into the assassination attempt is ongoing, and the Secret Service is facing intense scrutiny over its security measures and protocols.
