‘Here comes the finger-pointing’: Outrage as Secret Service blames local police for failing to secure areas around Trump's rally

Trigger Warning: This article contains some graphic information and content that may trigger some readers. Discretion is advised.

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA: The Secret Service held the local police accountable for not securing the rooftop from where shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks fired a series of shots at former president Donald Trump, stating it was beyond the perimeter they were responsible for protecting.

Secret Service representative Anthony Gugliemi claimed securing and patrolling AGR International Inc's factory grounds, situated 130 yards away from the podium where the GOP presumptive nominee was addressing his supporters at a July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was the local Pennsylvania police's responsibility.

The Secret Service was to secure only the gates of Trump's rally, and local police were recruited to assist in safeguarding the outside perimeter.

Five minutes into the ex-president’s speech, Crooks fired multiple shots, but Trump only sustained a ear injury. A rally attendee was killed, and two others were critically injured. The gunman was immediately shot fatally by a Secret Service sniper.

Law enforcement officials did not visit neighbors near Donald Trump’s rally ground to ensure safety

Amid growing criticism against the Secret Service's inability to prevent the attempted assassination of Trump, neighbors near the Butler Farm Show Grounds said to the New York Post that neither local nor federal law enforcement officials visited them during or days before the event.

"Nobody contacted me. Nobody. Nobody called me, nobody stopped here," said Valerie Fennell, whose house is located near the fairgrounds of the rally venue.

"I kinda was thinking that as close as my house is, that I honestly thought this might be part of a command station at some point."

Adding none of her neighbors were also not contacted, she said, "I guess it's kind of the same question that everybody has. I guess, as far as like, why that area wasn't secure."

The law enforcement's failure was evident at the rally too. Minutes before the shooting took place, a local cop encountered Crooks on the factory's rooftop after some attendees alerted them about a man with a rifle. The gunmen fired the shots immediately after the local police officer retreated from the roof.

Trump would have been fatally injured if he had not tilted his head to the side to look at the jumbotron immediately after the shot was fired.

Following the unexpected turn of events, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced he had plans to call the agency director, Kimberly Cheatle, for a hearing on July 22.

Internet slams Secret Service for blaming local police for not securing Donald Trump’s rally perimeter

Outraged at the Secret Service blaming local police for the attempted assassination of Trump, social media users noted the federal agency was responsible for the ex-president's safety.

"Here comes the finger pointing," a user wrote.

"Secret Service must be completely overhauled. Leadership must resign. Eliminate all DEI hires," another remarked.

"SS was tasked with protecting Trump. They failed. Passing the blame to local LE, who they should've been directing and supervising, doesn't absolve them of culpability. Unless they can prove local LE ignored them, this is 100% on the Secret Service," added a third user.

"This might actually make up for the lack of responsibility by the secret service. It's still the secret services obligation to secure who they are protecting. The blame does not shift in a serious situation like an assassination," read a fourth response.

"Seriously? That’s such a pathetic excuse. Did they not have enough resources and why? noted another user.

"Here comes the finger pointing game :D the President's safety shouldn't be left to local offices.. It should be handled, organized and coordinated with the SS's full efforts.. What we saw yesterday was; to say the least.. Uphauling, especially from a top organization tasked with one thing.." someone else wrote.

"Absolutely not. Leadership means accepting responsibility for failure. This was a SS show, local police were there on an assist. The failure is SS," an individual said.

"The finger pointing is not gonna fly. Fact is, SS is responsible for protecting their asset! They need to own their failure and it was a failure!" Added another user.

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