From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Trump speaks from behind bulletproof glass at first outdoor rally since attempted assassination
At his first outdoor rally since last month’s attempted assassination, Donald Trump speaks from behind bulletproof glass in North Carolina at an event focused on national security. On politics, he calls his predecessor Barack Obama “nasty” for his comments the night before at the Democratic National Convention.
The event, billed as focused on national security issues, is part of Trump’s weeklong series of counterprogramming to the Democratic National Convention, which is underway in Chicago. Allies have been urging him to focus on policy instead of personal attacks against Harris as he struggles to adjust to Biden’s departure from the race.
The second night of the Democrats’ convention Tuesday was a highly energized affair that featured speeches from both Obamas, who went after Trump in particularly biting terms.
Barack Obama mocked Trump’s obsession with his crowd sizes and called Trump “a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn’t stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago.”
“It’s been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually gotten worse now that he’s afraid of losing to Kamala,” the former president said.
Discussing Obama, Trump says he was “very nasty last night.”
“I try and be nice to people, you know. But it’s a little tough when they get personal,” he adds.
He then polls the crowd on whether he should listen to advisers who he says have told him, “Please, sir, don’t get personal. Talk about policy.”
“Should I get personal or should I not get personal?” he asks. The crowd overwhelmingly chooses the former.
Trump speaks from behind a podium surrounded by panes of bulletproof glass that formed a protective wall across the stage — part of ramped-up security measures aimed at keeping him safe after the attack by a Pennsylvania gunman on July 13.
Storage containers are stacked around the perimeter to create additional walls and block sight lines. Snipers are positioned on roofs at the venue, where old aircraft are sitting behind the podium and a large American flag is suspended from cranes.
