Former President Donald Trump is set to resume hosting outdoor rallies, with the New York Times reporting that the Secret Service has given approval for enhanced security measures at these events.
According to sources cited by the New York Times, bulletproof glass will be put in place in front of Trump during rallies. The Secret Service is also said to be reallocating agents from President Joe Biden’s security detail to assist with Trump’s protection.
The New York Times noted that while ballistic glass has been utilized for Secret Service protectees at previous events, its weight and logistical challenges make it difficult to transport.
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Prior to the rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump was seen standing behind a glass barrier. It was later disclosed by former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson to the House Jan. 6 Committee that Trump had requested the removal of weapon-detecting magnetometers outside the rally.
The rally preceded the certification of Electoral College votes from the 2020 election, which was disrupted by the Capitol insurrection.
Trump has refrained from holding outdoor rallies since he was injured by a gunman at an event in Pennsylvania on July 13. Outdoor rallies were a common feature of his campaign before the shooting occurred.
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During the attack, Trump sustained an injury to his right ear while addressing supporters, following several shots fired by a gunman from a nearby rooftop. The incident raised questions about how the assailant was able to access the rooftop in close proximity to the rally and target the former president before being fatally shot by Secret Service agents.
Kimberly Cheatle, who resigned as Secret Service director, acknowledged to Congress that the incident represented the agency’s most significant operational lapse in years.
