Sloped roof used by Trump rally gunman had ‘safety factor’ considerations: Secret Service director

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said in an interview that aired Tuesday morning that a sloped roof used by the gunman who attempted an assassination of former President Trump last weekend at a rally had “safety factor” considerations.

“That building in particular has a sloped roof, at its highest point,” Cheatle said in an interview that aired on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Tuesday morning to the outlet’s Pierre Thomas. “And so, there’s a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn’t want to put somebody up on a sloped roof. And so, the decision was made to secure the building, from inside.”

Former President Trump faced an assassination attempt Saturday at a rally in Butler, Pa. Cheatle and the Secret Service have received scrutiny for their handling of the incident in its wake, but Cheatle said in part of the interview with Thomas that aired Monday night that she won’t exit her role.

“I do plan to stay on,” Cheatle said.

The U.S. Secret Service has received support from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in the wake of the shooting, who said he has “100 percent” confidence in the Secret Service.

“I appreciate the secretary’s comments. And we are going to continue to be transparent and communicate with people,” she said in the ABC interview.