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Secret Service agents brawl outside Obama’s home amid scrutiny

Kalé Carey (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer)
A pair of U.S. Secret Service agents have been suspended after a fight caught on video surveillance outside Obama's home in D.C.
Image credit: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

The fight

The fight between two Secret Service agents reportedly stemmed from an agent arriving late to cover the shift of the other agent and pulling up in a different vehicle than the agent who was just about to end her shift requested.

More criticism

The incident is likely to open up the Secret Service to more scrutiny after it has faced criticism for its handling of a pair of assassination attempts against President Trump and another incident involving former Vice President Kamala Harris’ security detail.

Disciplinary action

The Secret Service has confirmed that both agents have been suspended pending an investigation into the matter.

Full story

The U.S. Secret Service is facing questions once again after two agents were suspended following a physical altercation. Multiple media outlets report that a pair of on-duty agents got into a fight outside former President Barack Obama’s home in Washington, D.C. A video of the incident surfaced during the week of May 25. The shoving match happened in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 21, according to a statement from the Secret Service to NBC News.

What happened?

Two female agents can be seen on surveillance video first published by Real Clear Politics on Tuesday, May 27, pushing each other next to a car outside the Obamas’ house.

The Independent reports that “multiple Secret Service sources” said that the fight happened after one officer arrived late to her shift. The other, whose shift was set to end, became angry after the vehicle the late agent arrived in wasn’t the one she had requested.

Journalist Susan Crabtree released video and audio of the incident on X, in which one of the agents can be heard saying, “Can I get a supervisor… immediately before I whoop this girl’s a–.”

The Secret Service responds

In a statement to TMZ, the Secret Service confirmed the incident. The agency said, “The U.S. Secret Service is aware of an on-duty altercation that occurred between two Uniformed Division officers at approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 21. The individuals involved were suspended from duty, and this matter is the subject of an internal investigation.”

The agency’s statement continued, “The Secret Service has a very strict code of conduct for all employees, and any behavior that violates that code is unacceptable.”

Other notable incidents

The Secret Service did not provide further details about the incident, but it comes as the agency faces scrutiny from lawmakers in the wake of other high-profile missteps, including an agent who showed signs of “distressing behavior” while providing detail for former Vice President Kamala Harris in April of 2024.

The Secret Service has also faced criticism over its handling of the lead-up to the two attempted assassinations of President Donald Trump. One in Butler, Pennsylvania, where investigators found lapses in security coverage prior to the campaign event, and another where a gunman was found outside of Trump’s golf course at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The incidents have led lawmakers to call on the Secret Service to improve security protocols and determine whether the agency is properly staffed and funded.

Following departure from office, former presidents and their spouses receive lifelong protection from the Secret Service.

Jack Henry (Video Editor), Alex Delia (Deputy Managing Editor), and Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

The altercation between two Secret Service agents outside former President Barack Obama's home draws attention to internal conduct and operational challenges within the agency responsible for protecting national leaders.

Agency professionalism

Maintaining professional conduct is essential for the Secret Service to ensure trust and reliability in carrying out its critical security responsibilities.

Internal accountability

The incident underscores the importance of internal oversight and disciplinary measures to address breaches of conduct and maintain agency standards.

Secret Service scrutiny

Recent controversies and security lapses have led to heightened scrutiny of the Secret Service's practices and its ability to protect high-profile individuals effectively.

Get the big picture

Synthesized coverage insights across 38 media outlets

Common ground

All perspectives agree that a physical altercation occurred between two female Secret Service agents outside former President Barack Obama’s home at approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 21. All sources also consistently report that the Secret Service suspended both officers and launched an internal investigation. The agency cited a “strict code of conduct.”

Context corner

The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for protecting current and former U.S. presidents and their families. Incidents of misconduct, such as physical altercations between agents, are rare but have occurred in the agency’s history. The Secret Service has faced scrutiny in the past for lapses in professionalism, especially following high-profile events and security breaches.

Quote bank

Notable quotes include: “The individuals involved were suspended from duty and this matter is the subject of an internal investigation,” and, “The Secret Service has a very strict code of conduct for all employees and any behavior that violates that code is unacceptable,” attributed to agency spokespeople across outlets.

Sources

  1. The Hill
  2. NBC News
  3. Susan Crabtree on X
  4. TMZ

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left framed the incident as a serious breach of professionalism within the Secret Service, emphasizing a pattern of ongoing agency issues and security failures, using charged terms like “brawling” and “breach of professionalism” to underscore severity near a former president’s home.
  • Not enough coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right linked the altercation to a broader institutional decline tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, framing the fight as emblematic of weakened discipline with emotionally loaded language such as “lack of professionalism” and “harrowing incident,” and invoking prior erratic behaviors to suggest system-wide dysfunction.

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Media landscape

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44 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • Two Secret Service agents have been suspended after a physical fight outside former President Barack Obama's home that occurred at around 2:30 a.m. on May 21.
  • The incident was captured on video by journalist Susan Crabtree, showing the officers exchanging blows.
  • The U.S. Secret Service confirmed the suspension and stated that the matter is under internal investigation, emphasizing that such behavior violates their strict code of conduct.

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Key points from the Center

No summary available because of a lack of coverage.

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Key points from the Right

  • The Secret Service has suspended two female officers following a physical altercation outside former President Barack Obama's residence on May 21.
  • An internal investigation is underway regarding their behavior, which the Secret Service deems unacceptable and in violation of their code of conduct.

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Other (sources without bias rating):

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Sources

  1. The Hill
  2. NBC News
  3. Susan Crabtree on X
  4. TMZ