Washington, US
Former President Donald Trump plans to stop holding outdoor rallies, such as the one in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was shot during an assassination attempt this month, according to two sources familiar with his campaign operations.
The sources informed that the current plans are to hold indoor rallies, but it is likely that Trump will participate in smaller outdoor events or larger rallies in facilities where entry is fully controlled and there are no issues with high ground nearby.
However, spokesperson for the Trump campaign and the Secret Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Notably, news of the venue change comes on the same day Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle announced her resignation.
While in a phone interview with Newsmax on Tuesday (July 23) night, Trump commented on her resignation, saying, "I just heard that she is out and she, I don’t think, had much of a choice."
The former president further added in recent months his campaign had been asking for more Secret Service agents at campaign events but was denied.
Trump also talked about an indoor rally he held in Michigan during the interview.
"Do I feel safe? Yeah, I have to feel safe. Otherwise, I guess, I wouldn’t be able to do this stuff," Trump said.
Kimberly Cheatle resigns
It is worth mentioning here, US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday (July 23) amid ongoing outrage over how the agency helmed by her failed to prevent the attempted assassination of former Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally earlier this month.
Also read | Who is Kimberly Cheatle, US Secret Service director who resigned days after Trump's assassination bid?
Cheatle said that one of the Secret Service’s foremost duties is to protect American leaders and that the agency "fell short of that mission" on July 13 when former US President Donald Trump faced attempted assassination.
"I do not want my calls for resignation to be a distraction from the great work each and every one of you do towards our vital mission," Cheatle said in an email sent to Secret Service agents.
(With inputs from agencies)