During a campaign rally in North Carolina on Wednesday, President Trump took an unexpected moment to leave the stage and attend to a supporter experiencing a medical emergency, stepping away from the bulletproof glass that had been protecting him.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Trump left the stage, with many on social media praising the gesture as a display of “bravery” and “humility.” This incident occurred after Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. The rally in Asheboro marked his first outdoor event since that attack.
On stage, Trump was surrounded by bulletproof glass barriers, a new security measure implemented by the United States Secret Service, which had also increased its presence at Trump’s campaign events.
Despite recommendations from the Secret Service to limit outdoor rallies due to heightened threats, Trump insisted on continuing with them. Just two weeks after being shot in the ear, he posted on Truth Social: “I will continue to do outdoor rallies, and the Secret Service has agreed to substantially step up their operation. They are very capable of doing so. No one can ever be allowed to stop or impede free speech or gathering!!!”
As Trump left the stage to assist the supporter, Secret Service agents closely followed him. It’s unclear whether the agents had cleared him to leave the stage.
Social media users described Trump’s actions as “fearless,” “brave,” and “caring,” with many calling him a “class act.”
When Trump returned to the stage, the crowd responded with chants of “We love Trump!”