A House task force investigating two assassination attempts on President-elect Donald Trump descended into chaos Thursday when a heated exchange erupted between Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) and acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe. The confrontation, punctuated by shouting and accusations of politicizing 9/11, highlighted tensions over the Secret Service’s handling of security and the events leading up to the attempted attacks.
The clash occurred after Fallon displayed a photograph of Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump at a September 11 memorial ceremony, pointing out Rowe’s absence from the picture. Fallon questioned Rowe’s role that day, asking why he, as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the detail, was not visibly present. Rowe said that his position as acting director kept him behind the scenes, ensuring broader operational oversight.
The situation escalated when Rowe, visibly frustrated, recounted his firsthand experiences at Ground Zero in 2001, describing the devastation and his role in recovery efforts. Fallon interrupted, demanding a direct answer to his question about Rowe’s absence in the photo. Rowe shot back, accusing Fallon of using the tragedy of 9/11 as a political weapon.
