Secret Service head refuses to step down, admits security failures in Trump rally assassination attempt

During an interview with ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, Cheatle said that the shooting was "unacceptable" and that "it's something that shouldn't happen again." Despite being in charge of the agency at the time of the event, Cheatle has said she will not be stepping down in light of the attempted assassination.

"You plan to stay on absolutely?" Thomas asked Cheatle.

"I do plan to stay on," she responded.

In the interview, Cheatle said that local law enforcement was tasked with protecting the outside perimeter of the event. "In this particular instance, we did share support for that particular site and that the USSS was responsible for the inner perimeter," Cheatle said in the interview. "And then we sought assistance from our local counterparts for the outer perimeter. There was local police in that building -- there was local police in the area that were responsible for the outer perimeter of the building."

Questions surrounding the agency have sparked calls for an investigation into its practices, with DEI being highlighted as an issue. Cheatle has also reportedly denied the Trump camp increased USSS detail, according to talk show host and former USSS agent Dan Bongino.

The agency has denied this assertion, with USSS spokesman Anthony Guglielmi saying, "Theres an untrue assertion that a member of the former President’s team requested additional security resources & that those were rebuffed.

The attempted assassination on Trump's life resulted in the death of 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, who had been shielding his family in the last moments of his life. Two other men were critically injured, 57-year-old Marine vet David Dutch, as well as 74-year-old James Copenhaver. Both are in stable condition after the violent shooting. Dutch was placed in a medically induced coma during treatment.