President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Sean Curran as the new director of the US Secret Service on Wednesday.
The announcement was made via Trump’s Truth Social platform, where he praised Curran as a “Great Patriot” who has protected his family over the past few years. “It is my great honor to appoint Sean Curran as the next Director of the United States Secret Service. Sean is a Great Patriot, who has protected my family over the past few years, and that is why I trust him to lead the Brave Men and Women of the United States Secret Service,” Trump said.
further explaining the reasoning behind the appointment, Trump said, “Sean has distinguished himself as a brilliant leader, who is capable of directing and leading operational security plans for some of the most complex Special Security Events in the History of our Country, and the World. He proved his fearless courage when he risked his own life to help save mine from an assassin’s bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. I have complete and total confidence in Sean to make the United States Secret Service stronger than ever before.”
Curran, who joined the Secret Service in September 2001, previously served as the special agent in charge of Trump’s security detail for four years. In this role, he oversaw 85 personnel and notably protected Trump during the first assassination attempt against him on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. An insider revealed to CNN that Curran actively advocated for enhanced security measures for Trump, and subsequently hurried towards the stage when shots rang out during the Butler event.
On December 29, Curran was promoted to deputy special agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Detail, a unit consisting of hundreds of agents responsible for protecting the current president and the first family.
Trump’s decision to appoint Curran goes against the recommendations of two bipartisan commissions, which suggested in 2015 and earlier this year that the next president should choose someone outside the agency to serve as director. Unlike other cabinet positions or the FBI director, the appointment of the Secret Service director does not require Senate confirmation.
Additionally, several official sources quoted by CNN have expressed reservations about Curran’s administrative capabilities to lead an organisation as intricate and substantial as the Secret Service. Whilst Curran’s experience includes overseeing approximately 85 personnel during his tenure on Trump’s security detail, he has not previously handled the extensive operational responsibilities or financial management that the Secret Service position demands.
Curran will replace Ron Rowe, who has been acting director since July, following the resignation of former Director Kimberly Cheatle. Cheatle stepped down amid criticism of the agency’s failure to prevent an assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in July last year, which resulted in the injury of two attendees and the death of 50-year-old Cory Comperatore.
