Was Anthony Pough, US Secret Service agent, part of Trump’s security before being sent on leave for post on Charlie Kirk’s death blaming karma

Anthony Pough, an employee working with the United States Secret Service, landed in trouble over a Facebook post on conservative right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot at Utah Valley University on Wednesday (10 September 2025). He was put on leave for the post criticizing those who are mourning his death.

“If you are Mourning [sic] this guy .. delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show,” Pough wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday (September 11, 2025). RealClearPolitics first reported on the post.

In the post, he also made mention of the shooting incident at Evergreen High School by a teenager that left two students seriously injured. “Especially when we should be mourning the innocent children killed in Colorado,” he added. “At the end of the day, you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave,” Pough continued.

Who is Anthony Pough?

According to RealClear Politics, Pough was a relatively new agent who graduated in 2022. He is reportedly a part of the agency’s Presidential Protective Division but is not on a detail regularly charged with protecting Trump.

According to the United States Secret Service website, it is a federal agency which was authorized to protect the President of the United States after the assassination of President William McKinley who died in 1901. Congress passed legislation and funds for the Secret Service to provide presidential protection.

US Secret Service issues statement

A US Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement, "The U.S. Secret Service will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct. This employee was immediately put on administrative leave, and an investigation has begun," according to media reports. Secret Service Director Sean Curran, in a memo to staff, said politically motivated attacks in the United States are on the rise, and staff shouldn't exacerbate the problem.

"Let me be clear, politically motivated attacks in our nation are increasing — seemingly every day," Curran wrote, as quoted by CBS News. "The men and women of the Secret Service must be focused on being the solution, not adding to the problem.”

According to CBS News, Curran's memo was sent on Thursday night and addressed to "the Men and Women of the Secret Service." In the memo, he said that he was reminding employees, "We swear an oath to those we protect to conduct ourselves with the highest standards of conduct on and off duty."

"When our actions draw public attention for the wrong reasons, we fall short of that duty and compromise the trust essential to fulfill our mission," Curran further stated. "We must operate every day without bias towards political affiliation. We owe it to ourselves and those we are sworn to protect. Any distractions, otherwise, will not be tolerated," he continued.

Charlie Kirk Assassination

Kirk was fatally shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University. The Turning Point USA founder was later pronounced dead after he was rushed to the hospital. He is survived by his wife, Erika, and two young children.

President Trump announced on Thursday (September 11, 2025) that he will posthumously award Kirk, his close ally, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the US. After a two-day search and pleas to the public for information, law enforcement officials said Friday (September 12, 2025) that they had arrested the suspected shooter, who was identified as Tyler Robinson.