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Donald Trump is set to face his fears and take the outdoor stage once again in North Carolina on Wednesday. The former president’s first open-air rally since surviving an assassination attempt last month is sure to draw a crowd and plenty of attention.
In light of recent threats, security is getting a major upgrade at today’s rally in Asheboro, North Carolina. Sources close to the campaign reveal that the podium where Donald Trump will speak will be shielded by bulletproof glass, a precautionary measure to ensure the former president’s safety.
In the wake of a traumatic incident, the Secret Service cautioned Donald Trump against continuing to hold outdoor rallies.
The agency’s lapse in protecting the former president from a rooftop assailant in Butler, Pennsylvania, which resulted in Trump’s injury and a fatality, prompted a thorough reevaluation of their security protocols.
Undeterred by the attempted assassination, Trump is pushing to revive his outdoor rally schedule. Addressing a crowd at Harrisburg’s indoor arena on July 31, he vowed them at won’t let fear dictate his campaign – and that he was going back outside!
“Trump took to social media to announce his intention to keep holding open-air events, despite the recent security scare. He expressed his trust in the Secret Service, saying they’ve agreed to “amp up their protection” and are “more than capable” of ensuring everyone’s safety.
The Secret Service does not normally comment publicly on security operations and does not respond to requests for confirmation of the use of bulletproof glass and other ramped-up security tactics.
The protective detail is planning for Trump to speak from behind a special see-through protective glass barrier before thousands of rally attendees in Asheboro, the Washington Examiner reported Tuesday, citing a source with firsthand knowledge of the security measures.
The glass is similar to that used in the presidential limousine, which is also designed to protect occupants from a shooting, the newspaper said.
Trump’s rally in Asheboro is a form of counter-programming. It comes on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where security officials have set up a ring of steel around the gathering that formally names Kamala Harris as the party’s 2024 presidential nominee, after President Joe Biden exited the race.
Security was also airtight at last month’s Republican National Convention, which took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin just days after the assassination attempt.
Trump is scheduled to take the stage at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame, along with his running mate Senate J.D. Vance. The museum has posted photographs of bleachers set up to accommodate thousands of guests, and its Facebook account relays guest instructions from the Trump-Vance campaign stating “this event will be outdoors.”
The southern state of North Carolina is considered one of a handful of swing states that are expected to determine the outcome of the November 5 election.
