A former Secret Service agent has suggested that President Donald Trump should consider reducing the number of cabinet members at major events, following a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington D.C. The president and first lady were evacuated after a suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, opened fire, injuring a Secret Service officer.
Robert McDonald, who spent over two decades protecting previous presidents, said the incident highlighted the risks of having multiple members of the presidential line of succession in one room. "Do we need to rethink the idea that we'd have a dozen people in the line of the presidential succession in one room?" NewsNation's Chris Stirewalt asked McDonald, who replied, "Yeah, I think your point is spot on."
Several cabinet members, including Attorney General Todd Blanche and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., were present, along with Vice President J.D. Vance. McDonald noted that Trump appears to have more cabinet members at events than previous presidents, and suggested the Secret Service should discuss reducing such exposure.
Allen faces charges of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer. He is due to be arraigned on Monday. McDonald praised the Secret Service's response, saying, "Nobody got hurt other than the officer who took a bullet to his bulletproof vest."
