Official announcement from the U.S. Secret Service or White House

Trump to Appoint Sean Curran as Secret Service Director After Butler and Florida Incidents

Jan 17, 2025, 11:38 AM

President-elect Donald Trump is set to appoint Sean Curran, the head of his personal protective detail, as the new director of the U.S. Secret Service. Curran, who has been with Trump since the beginning of his campaign and manages a team of 85 agents, was notably present during an assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, where he and other agents shielded Trump after a bullet grazed his right ear. This move comes after the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle, who faced criticism for the agency's response to the Butler incident. Curran is expected to replace Ronald Rowe, the current acting director, amid ongoing scrutiny and pressure on the Secret Service following the security lapses during the attempt on Trump's life and a subsequent failed attempt at his Florida golf course in September 2024. Trump's decision to appoint Curran, a close acquaintance, reflects a desire for leadership change within the agency, which has been criticized for operational and communication failures.