The U.S. Secret Service is encouraging former President Trump not to hold large outdoor rallies in some instances following the assassination attempt on the Republican presidential nominee, the Washington Post first reported Tuesday and Axios can confirm.
Why it matters: It’s signature Trump to hold large, outdoor rallies, per a source, who emphasized that this didn’t mean he wouldn’t hold another big-crowd event outside. But the shift to looking at whether to hold an event indoors our outside on a case by case basis is part of stepped-up security measures in the wake of the Pennsylvania, rally shooting.
- It underscores how seriously both the Trump campaign and the USSS are taking security in the July 13 shooting that led to U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigning on Tuesday following blistering criticism and mounting bipartisan calls to step down over the incident.
- There are no outdoor events scheduled for the coming days and Trump’s team is now looking for suitable indoor venues that could accommodate the large big crowds that Trump typically draws, per WaPo.
Zoom in: The USSS and Trump’s team have been holding conversations on how they would move forward if they were told hold outdoor events, according to the source.
- The approach to planning for a Trump event has shifted following the shooting. Some previous events went ahead despite Trump campaign requests for extra assets, such as specialized dogs, being turned down.
- The campaign had stood down events in the past after being denied assets from the Secret Service, but the source said the USSS has not denied any request since the assassination attempt.
- It’s now the Trump team’s preference not to hold an outside rally if possible, but the source notes that there are certain times when it’s still best to hold an event outdoors.
