Former President Donald Trump plans to resume outdoor rallies after the Secret Service granted him an exception to provide bulletproof glass protection, according to multiple reports.
The Secret Service plans to surround Trump’s podium with bulletproof glass, two federal law enforcement officials said. CBS NewsCiting “multiple sources,” ABC News He confirmed reports that the Secret Service used bulletproof glass to protect the former president.
“This is not just glass, this is big, bulky, heavily armored glass that will require extensive logistical capabilities that are typically only used for large outdoor events.”
The Secret Service declined to comment to either news organization for the report.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Chang told ABC News that the campaign does not comment on security arrangements involving former President Trump.
These security measures are normally reserved for protecting a sitting president, but the Secret Service is making an exception following the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The use of bulletproof glass was first proposed by former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle shortly after the assassination attempt and before she left the agency.
“The Secret Service’s use of Up-Armored glass around former President Trump marks another step in ensuring security for the campaign trail going forward. This isn’t just any glass – this is large, bulky, heavily armored glass that is typically only available at large outdoor events, requiring extensive logistical capabilities,” Don Mihalek, a former senior Secret Service agent, told ABC News.
The assassination attempt on Trump was the first on a presidential candidate since George Wallace in March 1972, who was shot four times in Laurel, Maryland, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
After the shooting, the Secret Service Reportedly He urged President Trump not to hold any outdoor rallies ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
July 23rd, NBC News Two sources familiar with Trump campaign activities reported that Trump plans to stop holding outdoor rallies.
Since the July 13 assassination attempt, Trump has held nearly 10 campaign events, all of which have been held indoors.
On July 31, Trump said at a campaign rally at an indoor arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that he was “not going to give up on outdoor rallies.”
“They want to have an arena. I don’t know why. But we’re not going to give up on outdoor gatherings,” Trump told the crowd. “The people that we had to turn away today can have an outdoor gathering.”
Weeks before the Butler shooting, the Secret Service reportedly increased security around the former president after receiving intelligence that Iran was planning to assassinate Trump.
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