Trump set to hold first outdoor rally since assassination attempt

Former U.S. President and Republican candidate Donald Trump is set to hold an outdoor rally in North Carolina on Wednesday, marking his first open-air campaign event since surviving an assassination attempt just a month ago.

According to reports from U.S. media, which cite sources within the security and campaign teams, security measures have been significantly heightened for the rally, which will take place at an aviation museum in Asheboro, North Carolina. These precautions include the installation of bulletproof glass around the podium where Trump is expected to speak.

This decision to return to outdoor rallies comes despite recommendations from the Secret Service, who had advised Trump to avoid open-air events following a harrowing incident in Butler, Pennsylvania. During that event, a gunman fired shots from a rooftop, injuring Trump in the ear and tragically killing a bystander in the crowd. The shooting exposed vulnerabilities in the security detail responsible for protecting the former president, prompting a temporary shift to indoor venues.

Since the assassination attempt, Trump has conducted around a dozen indoor rallies, but he has consistently expressed a strong desire to return to the open-air format that has become a hallmark of his campaign style. On July 31, speaking to supporters at an indoor event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Trump declared, “We’re not giving up the outdoor rallies.”

In the days leading up to the North Carolina rally, the 78-year-old former president took to social media to reaffirm his commitment to holding outdoor events. He assured his followers that the Secret Service had agreed to significantly enhance security operations, expressing confidence in their ability to ensure his safety.