TMZ Studios

Donald Trump‘s Secret Service security detail was flush with women the day he was grazed by a bullet … and one former agent says the brass was more interested in optics than security.

TMZ Studios has a new special, “TMZ Presents: Under Fire: The Trump Assassination Attempt,” where we explore the many, stunning security failures that lead to the attempt on Trump’s life at his fateful Butler, Pennsylvania rally.

Richard Staropoli, a top former Secret Service Special Agent, is strongly suggesting the women assigned to protect Trump that day should shoulder a lot of the blame.

The way Richard sees it … the women here were assigned more for optics than merit, and he has a big problem with what happened after the shooter missed Trump’s head.

7/13/24

The issue … when SS agents stand Trump back up on stage, a good portion of the presidential candidate’s body is exposed … and Richard says it’s because the female agents just aren’t tall enough to shield Trump.

Cheryl Tyler, another former Secret Service Special Agent, is pushing back on Richard’s assessment … she says height has nothing to do with an agent’s ability to protect the President, male or female.

For Cheryl, Richard’s beef here just doesn’t hold up under scrutiny … she says she knows a lot of male agents who have been shorter than the president they were assigned to protect.

7/15/24

Fair, or not, this criticism is a big part of the conversation on the would-be Trump assassination … and he didn’t have as many women agents protecting him at the ensuing RNC.