Secret Service pushes back against DEI comments [Video]

Last Saturday, a bullet reportedly ripped through former President Donald Trump’s ear while he was speaking at a campaign rally, prompting concerns about the Secret Service detail protecting him.

However, rhetoric online that lays blame at the Secret Service’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies is misplaced, according to former and current members of the agency. In particular, conservative commenters online have picked at the female agents in Trump’s detail.

For example, controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) called Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle a “DEI hire” in a Tuesday X post and said she should resign. Other conservatives also called for Cheatle to leave her post.

“It is an insult to the women of our agency to imply that they are unqualified based on gender. Such baseless assertions undermine the professionalism, dedication and expertise of our workforce,” said Anthony Guglielmi, the Secret Service’s chief of communication, in a statement cited by NBC News.

“The Secret Service, in a …