Trump speaks from behind bulletproof glass for the first time after failed assassination bid

More than a month after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt, former US president, Donald Trump, on Wednesday (Aug 21) held his first outdoor campaign event, albeit with a little difference. Trump spoke from behind bulletproof glass at a rally in the swing state of North Carolina - suggesting that the Secret Service was not taking any half-measure in his security.

During the address, Trump, 78, called Harris the "most radical left person" to ever run for the White House.

"All over the world, our adversaries knew that America was not to be trifled with when I was your commander in chief," Trump said. "If comrade Kamala wins this November, World War III is virtually guaranteed to happen."

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Trump's last address at an outdoor venue came in Butler County, Pennsylvania where a rallygoerlost his life even as the Republican leader walked away with a minor gunshot wound in his right ear.

On Wednesday, Trump left the bulletproof stage and entered the crowd to check on an attendee who was suffering a medical issue. Experts believe that Trump, who relies heavily on the crowd for his rallies and their tempo, may not like the barrier between him and his supporters but the Secret Service would have forced him to go through it.

Last month, the Secret Service admitted that it had deniedrequests for additional resources and manpower to protect Trump.The ex-president's team had requested more agents and magnetometers at large public events he attended, as well as extra snipers for outdoor venues.

The repeated rejections led to long-standing tensions between Trump, his top aides and his security detail against Secret Service leadership.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service admitted that new information had surfaced indicating that the agency's headquarters may have in fact denied requests for additional security from Trump's detail.

Watch |US Secret Service director grilled by lawmakers on Trump assassination attempt

Trump survives

Notably, 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks, had fired a volley of eight rounds towards the former US president using an AR-15 rifle while he was addressing the rally in an open field in Butler County.

It was only after one of the bullets grazed Trump and killed a rallygoer that the Secret Service was able to neutralise Crooks.

Since the incident, the FBI has not been able to uncover what was Crooks' motivebehind the shooting. Crooks' digital footprint was minimal which has forced the authorities to search elsewhere for clues.

(With inputs from agencies)