(The Center Square) – Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas expressed full confidence in the U.S. Secret Service during a press briefing at the White House on Monday in the wake of Saturday’s assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.
The Secret Service has been under fire for its security efforts at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania, where the former president was shot in the right ear and another man was killed.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre hosted the press briefing alongside Mayorkas and gave opening remarks.
“As President [Joe] Biden made clear, what we do know is that a former president was shot in a senseless act of violence and a fellow American was killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing,” Jean-Pierre said. “We must not go down this road in America.”
Mayorkas added that they “unequivocally condemn” the violence against Trump that occurred on Saturday.
“We are thankful for the heroic agents of the United States Secret Service who so quickly and bravely responded to the threat at Saturday’s campaign event,” Mayorkas said.
Mayorkas said during the press briefing that Biden directed him to offer Secret Service protection for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after the assassination attempt on Trump this past weekend.
Mayorkas responded to one reporter at the press briefing questioning whether he and Biden still had confidence in Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle after the mounting criticism of how the agency she leads handled the rally.
“I have 100% confidence in the Director of the United States Secret Service,” Mayorkas said. “I have 100% confidence in the United States Secret Service. And what you saw on stage on Saturday with respect to individuals putting their own lives at risk for the protection of another is exactly what the American public should see every single day, it is what I indeed do.”
Mayorkas also responded to a reporter's question on Monday about theories questioning whether the federal government had a hand in the assassination attempt against Trump.
“First of all, that is preposterous,” Mayorkas said. “And it is also dangerous to propagate rumors that are so unequivocally false and provocative. And as the President so powerfully said to the entire nation, we have to tamp down the rhetoric in this country. The rhetoric itself creates a threat environment that really is quite dynamic and evolving.”
Mayorkas went on to say that he would “not speak for the President” when asked by a reporter if Biden shares his sentiments of confidence towards the Secret Service.
One reporter at the briefing asked about the Secret Service protocols used at the Trump rally on Saturday, while another reporter asked about possible "findings of failures" by the Secret Service in preventing the attempted assassination shooting.
“I am not in a position to speculate, nor should I,” Mayorkas said.
Mayorkas’ comments at the press briefing come after ongoing speculation and scrutiny over how the shooter was able to get so close to the former president and on an unoccupied rooftop.
Some viral videos spread on social media appear to show rally attendees noticing the shooter minutes before the incident.
Mayorkas ended the briefing by citing the fact that he could “not speak to what events did or did not occur” due to the attempted assassination being under a criminal investigation.
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