Washington, 23 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - US Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday in the wake of the assassination attempt against Donald Trump at a campaign rally.

Both Republicans and Democrats have been demanding that she step down over the security failures at Trump's rally near Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13 that resulted in a bullet grazing his right ear.

Cheatle had rebuffed those calls until now, including during more than four hours of tough questioning by incensed lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Monday.

The representatives demanded to know how the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was able to climb to an elevated position with an assault rifle and fire a number of shots at Trump.

But Cheatle did not provide clear answers to a number of questions about the security lapses.

The attack also left one audience member dead and two other spectators badly injured. Crooks was shot dead.

US media reported that Cheatle shared her resignation with Secret Service employees in an email.

"In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director," the email read.

Biden expresses gratitude as Speaker says resignation overdue

The White House issued a statement on behalf of President Joe Biden that read: "Jill and I are grateful to Director Kim Cheatle for her decades of public service. She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service.

"We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our administration and we are grateful for her service to our family."

The statement said that an independent review under way must "get to the bottom" of what happened.

"We all know what happened that day can never happen again."

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, meanwhile, said Cheatle's resignation was "overdue."

"She should have done this at least a week ago," he added.

New director appointed

Cheatle had been head of the Secret Service since 2022.

She previously spent 27 years with the service, eventually moving to the private sector to work for beverage giant PepsiCo before she returned as director.

US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday appointed Cheatle's former deputy Ronald Rowe to serve as acting director.

Rowe has served in the Secret Service for 24 years.

"I appreciate his willingness to lead the Secret Service at this incredibly challenging moment, as the agency works to get to the bottom of exactly what happened on July 13 and cooperate with ongoing investigations and Congressional oversight," said Mayorkas in a statement.

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