Trust in Secret Service Plummets After Attempt on Trump's Life: Poll
A new poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that most Americans harbor doubts about the Secret Service's ability to protect presidential candidates following a near-fatal assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump last month. The poll indicates that only around 3 in 10 Americans are extremely or very confident in the Secret Service's capacity to prevent violence against candidates before the upcoming election. Furthermore, approximately 7 in 10 respondents believe the agency bears at least a moderate level of responsibility for the assassination attempt.
The survey results come in the wake of the resignation of Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle, who faced intense scrutiny and provided evasive answers during a congressional hearing. Ronald Rowe, the acting director, expressed shame over the incident, particularly criticizing the failure to secure the roof from which the gunman fired. Political affiliations appear to influence perceptions of responsibility; Democrats are more likely to blame political division in the U.S., while many respondents also pointed to the availability of guns as a contributing factor.
