Why the Blue Wall Looms So Large
AtlanticAug 25
Trump Gives First Outdoor Speech Since Assassination Attempt
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Above: Donald Trump greets supporters during an event on August 21, 2024 in Asheboro, North Carolina at the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame. Image copyright: Melissa Sue Gerrits/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Former Pres. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, Wednesday spoke to thousands of supporters outside a hangar at an aviation museum in Asheboro, N.C. — the first outdoor rally Trump has held since he survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July.
Trump delivered his speech from a podium behind bulletproof glass with storage containers stacked around the perimeter of the venue to block potential lines of sight. Snipers were located on several roofs of the venue.
The Spin
Right narrative
After all its failures leading up to and during last month's attempt on Trump's life, the least the Secret Service could do was provide Trump with the most protection available at his future outdoor events. Any questions about Trump being scared, however, were quashed when he courageously left the safety of the bulletproof glass to embrace a woman who had been in distress.
Left narrative
It would be much easier and safer for Trump to take the Secret Service's advice and stick to indoor venues. But if his ego insists on outdoor events, he should be appreciative of the government's protection. But aside from where he's speaking, Trump must draw more scrutiny for his false claims about NATO, Afghanistan, and the Russia-Ukraine war — i.e. the dangerous content of his remarks.
