A new report claims that the U.S. Secret Service has developed and approved a new security plan for future outdoor rallies featuring former President Donald Trump.
A Secret Service official told The Washington Post that bulletproof glass shields will be installed on the stage of future outdoor rallies to protect the former president following the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
After the assassination attempt against the former president last month, the Secret Service reportedly urged the Trump campaign to hold future rallies and events at indoor venues. The roughly 12 campaign events Trump has held since the assassination attempt have all been held indoors, according to ABC News.
The anonymous Secret Service official told The Washington Post that bulletproof glass is typically reserved for presidents and vice presidents. “Former presidents and candidates don’t normally get bulletproof glass or support from DoD,” the official stated. “This glass needs to be brought in on trucks and vans.”
To prepare for future rallies, The Washington Post said the Secret Service has started to store the ballistic glass in multiple locations throughout the United States so the glass can be easily accessed for Trump campaign rallies and events. The outlet reported that the plans were completed by Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe after the resignation of former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
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“The Secret Service use of UpArmored glass around former President Trump is another step to ensure the campaign is and remains secure,” Don Mihalek, a retired senior Secret Service agent, told ABC News. “This isn’t just a piece of glass but a large, bulky and heavy armored glass that will require extensive logistics capability, normally reserved for large-scale outdoor events.”
NBC News reported that a Secret Service official said the agency would be increasing staffing and technology at outdoor Trump rallies to mitigate potential threats. The official said the agency would also increase threat analysis and prevention for future protective details, including counter-surveillance and counter-snipers.
A Secret Service official also told The Washington Post that additional technical security assets that are not typically assigned to presidential candidates will also be deployed to protect the former president.
Trump aides told The Washington Post that the former president wants to resume holding outdoor rallies, including an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, but that Trump wants to have protective glass surrounding the outdoor stages.
