Secret Service To Use Bulletproof Glass At Trump Outdoor Rallies In Wake Of Butler Shooting
The Secret Service will use bulletproof glass to protect former President Donald Trump as part of a new plan to safeguard his future outdoor events, according to multiple news reports, following his recent assassination attempt.
While this extra layer of security is typically used for sitting presidents and vice presidents, the agency has looked to beef up measures at Trump’s events after a gunman shot at the former president, wounding his left ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. One rally attendee was killed in the attack and others were injured.
The bulletproof glass panels, which are typically transported with special military aircraft during presidential visits, according to NBC News, will be stationed in different areas around the country to be easily accessible for Trump’s events in the lead-up to November’s election.
Officials are planning for the panels to cover Trump on three sides, sources told ABC News, which was first to report the updated security plan.
A senior official described the overall effort to CNN as “a significant undertaking when it comes to logistics.”
The Secret Service has not commented on the reports; however, the move was reportedly in the works even prior to Kimberly Cheatle’s decision to resign as Secret Service director a day after she testified before Congress about the shooting amid bipartisan calls for her to step down from the role.
The addition of bulletproof glass is not the only measure being taken to safeguard the former president as the agency is also planning to deploy more personnel and use technology to mitigate security threats.
Trump has not hosted any outdoor rallies following the assassination attempt, but has voiced his desire to resume such events and hold a new