Donald Trump abandoned the protection of his newly installed bullet proof glass to go check on a member of his audience who needed medical attention.
Trump was in mid flow at a rally in Asheboro, North Carolina, his first outdoor event since he survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd and people could be heard shouting ‘Medic!’.
Trump, who was talking about UFC and boxing, stopped and looked.
He then said into the microphone: ‘A doctor, please…’
Trump leaves stage and heads to crowd
Trump hugs one of his supporters who needed medical attention
It was not immediately clear what the medical emergency was.
After a pause, Trump went on: ‘It is very hot here, I notice. It is very hot. A lot of the people waited for days to get here. I understand it. Take your time, doctor, take your time, thank you.’
Trump watched the unfolding drama for a few more moments and then left the lectern, walked to the side of the stage, descended the stairs, and headed over to the crowd, accompanied by Secret Service agents.
Trump on stage before the supporter’s medical emergency
Trump leaves the protection of bulletproof glass to head to the crowd
Security forces members keep watch on the day of a campaign rally held by former U.S. President Donald Trump at Asheboro Regional Airport in Asheboro, North Carolina, U.S. August 21, 2024
In doing so, he was outside the protection of the bullet proof glass that had been installed around the stage to foil any further assassination attempts.
He then leaned over a barrier and hugged a woman in the crowd who appeared to be recovering and drinking a bottle of water.
After he returned to the stage Trump said: ‘You know, they come two, three days early and it’s a lot of stress, we lose them. The only ones we don’t lose are the front row Joes, I don’t know what they have going, they have something going here.’
He added: ‘Thank you very much. thanks doctor.’
Trump surrounded by bulletproof glass on stage at the rally
Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally, at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina
During his speech Trump railed against Vice President Kamala Harris’ approach to national security.
He told a raucous crowd: ‘The world is on fire, and Kamala and Biden have marched us to the brink of World War III.”
Trump blamed the current White House for the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal, and wars between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Hamas.
He spoke at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame from behind a podium surrounded by panes of bulletproof glass that formed a protective wall across the stage.
It is part of ramped-up security measures aimed at keeping Trump safe following the assassination attempt, when he was shot in the ear.
Storage containers were stacked around the perimeter to create additional walls and block sight lines.
Donald Trump gestures to the crowd in North Carolina
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee JD Vance shake hands during a campaign rally, at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina
Donald Trump behind bulletproof glass as he addresses the crowd
Snipers were positioned on roofs at the venue, where old aircraft were sitting behind the podium and a large American flag was suspended from cranes.
The event, billed as being 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 Trump to focus on policy instead of personal attacks as he struggles to adjust to running against Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.