After the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, The Secret Service reportedly asked his campaign to stop outdoor rallies and events that attracted large crowds.
The Washington Post reports that after a gunman shot Trump during a rally, officials expressed concern about another attack on his life.
People familiar with the issue spoke under the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.
People familiar with this request say that Trump’s team has been scouting for indoor venues such as large basketball arenas or other large spaces, where thousands of people could fit. A person close to Trump confirmed that the campaign does not plan any large outdoor events at this time.
Since launching his first bid for the presidency, Trump has held hundreds of outdoor rallies. He often boasts about his large crowds and inflates them falsely. These rallies have become a favorite of his most ardent fans. They include tailgate parties, vendors in open areas around the rally, and huge traffic parades, sometimes with massive pickup trucks.
Usually, there are many speakers before Trump arrives on stage. The crowds can endure the heat or cold for hours. It is interesting to note that the crowd often leaves before Trump finishes his speech, despite Trump’s habitual tardiness.
Sarah Matthews is a former Trump spokesperson who told The Post:
We’ve seen how important the size of the crowd is to him, even in his early days as president and before that during his 2016 campaign. He gets a lot more energy and joy from large crowds. He gets a lot of energy from them. Matthews, a former deputy press secretary at the Trump White House, said that it’s like a comfort to him.
Campaign advisers say indoor rallies are costlier. One campaign official, who spoke under the condition of anonymity to describe private plans, said that indoor events were safer by nature because they are easier to control and have fewer issues with line of sight.
She said, “You have a certain capacity with an indoor venue.” It doesn’t have the same impact. “There’s something special about being at an outdoor rally.”
Trump’s large outdoor rallies are challenging for the agency because they have complex and large venues. Agents arrive early to prepare for the former president’s large outdoor events.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter, and his motives have been investigated by the authorities. They have uncovered some details about the attempted assassination, but they still haven’t discovered what made Crooks shoot the former President.
After the shooting, the Secret Service has been criticized for failing to stop Crooks from firing at the former President despite warnings by rallygoers. Kimberly Cheatle, the former Secret Service director, resigned from her post after she was grilled by Republican and Democratic legislators during a recent hearing. She failed to answer even basic questions regarding the incident.
