At an outdoor rally in Asheboro, North Carolina, Donald Trump appeared in a bulletproof glass enclosure for his first public event since being injured in a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last month. The shooting, which resulted in Trump having a bloodied ear, injured two attendees and killed one person, led the Secret Service to recommend that Trump hold only indoor events temporarily. Recently, the agency decided to use bulletproof glass to ensure his safety at outdoor rallies.
Trump’s North Carolina event was a strategic counter to the Democratic National Convention’s star-studded week in Chicago. The rally began with brief remarks from JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, and included appearances by North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, whom Trump noted had “lost a lot of weight.”
Trump’s speech centered on national security, repeating familiar MAGA talking points about NATO, Afghanistan, and Russia, and attacking his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, whom he referred to as “Comrade Kamala.” He reiterated his long-standing claim that NATO allies have not paid their fair share, despite there being no legal obligation to meet the 2% GDP defence target outlined by the alliance.
He also claimed, without evidence, that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would not have occurred under his presidency and cited Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán’s supposed endorsement of his return to office. Trump continued to propagate unfounded election fraud claims and expressed frustration with the media and Democratic criticism.
On the topic of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2022, Trump promised to “fire” responsible military officials and described the ordeal in graphic terms. Despite campaign efforts to focus on policy issues, Trump frequently deviated into personal grievances, particularly in response to Barack Obama’s remarks at the convention. Trump’s speech ultimately included a tangent about whether Hillary Clinton should be imprisoned, reflecting his difficulty sticking to his campaign’s message.