Trump reveals he spoke with Secret Service Director Cheatle, wants to know how would-be assassin got on roof

Former President Trump and his running mate for the 2024 election, JD Vance, sat down for their first joint interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters on Monday, just days after an assassination attempt on Trump's life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In the interview, Trump revealed that embattled Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle paid him a visit following the incident. He described the meeting as pleasant and noted that she was very nice. However, Trump also expressed his belief that someone should have ensured the roof of the building nearby was clear, referring to the position of the shooter.

The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired shots at Trump from the rooftop of a building approximately 130 yards away. Eyewitnesses, including Michael Difrischia, recalled seeing Crooks lying on top of the American Glass Research building, aiming an AR-style rifle. Difrischia told "The Ingraham Angle" that he and others tried to alert the nearby police officers, but the officers were too close to the building and couldn't see the shooter.

Trump expressed surprise at how close Crooks was able to get, noting that a bad shot would usually still hit the target. He disagreed with Cheatle's characterization of the roof as having a slope, insisting that it was essentially flat. Trump suggested that Cheatle may have been given false information and questioned why he wasn't kept off the stage for a brief period if there were concerns about a potential threat.

The security failures surrounding the assassination attempt have raised serious concerns. Cheatle acknowledged that it was the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades. Despite her testimony, two ranking members of the House Oversight Committee called for her resignation, citing a lack of reassurance that the Secret Service has learned from its mistakes.

Trump praised the swift action of his Secret Service agents during the incident and provided an update on his injury, stating that his ear is healing well and the bandages are getting smaller. He reflected on the shocking nature of the event and expressed gratitude for his luck and God's protection.