Our stalwart Texas Republican Senator, Ted Cruz, recently locked horns with Ronald Rowe Jr., the newly appointed acting Director of the Secret Service. The bone of contention? The staffing level at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally where an assassination attempt was made on our former President Donald Trump on July 13. This heated exchange took place during a U.S. Senate hearing regarding the incident.
Things escalated when Cruz questioned Rowe about the frequency of Trump’s requests for additional protection being denied by the agency. Rowe responded, “The process, sir, is that a detail will make a request for either staffing or technical assets, which is handled between the field office and the detail,” adding that it then goes up to a logistics office between their offices.
Cruz retorted emphatically, “So let me tell you what I believe,” he declared during the hearing. “I believe that the Secret Service leadership made a political decision to deny these requests, and I think the Biden administration has been suffused with partisan politics.”
Rowe held his ground, claiming that decisions within the Secret Service are not politically influenced. This only stoked Cruz’s fire more. “Does the buck stop anywhere?” the fiery Texas Republican shouted. “You are not a Congress! You don’t have a cameral! By the way, is it true that on the day of the Butler event that Secret Service transferred an agent from President Trump to the first lady?” Rowe denied this accusation.
The tension further escalated when Rowe attempted to explain why a sitting president like Joe Biden would require a larger Secret Service detail than a former president. Cruz, not satisfied with the response, demanded a clear answer: “Is it the same number of agents or not?” Rowe responded, “Senator, there is a difference between the sitting president of the United States. There are other assets that travel with the president that the former president will not get.”
Cruz, seemingly more agitated, accused Rowe of evading his questions, “Sir, you are refusing to answer straight!” he thundered. “Sir, stop interrupting me! You are refusing to answer clear and direct questions,” he added. “I’m not asking why you assign more to Joe Biden.” Rowe placated the Texas senator by promising to provide the numbers for his scrutiny.
Final Thoughts
This exchange between Senator Cruz and Director Rowe is emblematic of the deep-seated partisan politics that continue to plague our nation. It’s clear that our Republican leaders are fighting tooth and nail for accountability and transparency in all matters concerning our national security. Let’s hope that this call for clarity doesn’t fall on deaf ears.
This is b.s. They were protecting Jill Biden’s as- (like someone would want her) at an inside ballroom restaurant- type setting with 400 guests. 7/10 President Trump’s Campaign notified they would be in Butler, PA for a rally. There 20,000 attending this function at an outdoor facility with several buildings that could be used for an assassination attempt. A layperson knows Donald Trump is hated by the entire Democrat Party and they have many discussions about him being assassinated from when he was in Office. I’m sure a 10 year old child could determine where the bigger danger could take place. All of you are just CYA.