'This is going to fire everybody up'

MILWAUKEE — As security borders rise around them, former President Donald Trump’s supporters say they feel reinvigorated and united in supporting their candidate’s campaign following Saturday’s assassination attempt.
“I think this is going to fire everybody up,” said Eddie Fire, an Arizonian attending alongside his wife Sophia Fire. “It’s going to be nice to be around like-minded people.”

An expanding swath of downtown Milwaukee is sequestered by concrete and metal barriers. Law enforcement agencies expanded the RNC’s perimeter Sunday morning. Delegates, media and attendees still must pass multiple security checkpoints to reach the convention floor — and those checkpoints now start further away from the Fiserv Forum where the party’s business will be conducted this week. Law enforcement hailing from numerous states — including, but not limited to, California, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Mississippi — patrolled the area’s interior on horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, motor vehicle and boat.

During a press conference Sunday afternoon, the Secret Service, FBI and Milwaukee officials said they “did not anticipate” these security measures would change in reaction to Saturday’s shooting, and that the protocols currently in place had been planned during an “18-month process.” 

The aftershock of Trump’s attempted assassination has distressed supporters who have arrived in Milwaukee.
“It seemed like [the video] was in slow motion,” Sophia Fire said of the filmed shooting. “It was really, very stressful. I felt like crying.”

But any anxiety hasn’t shaken supporters’ confidence. The Fires’ relief for Trump’s safety eventually overpowered their initial anger, and Eddie Fire said he wasn’t surprised and “wouldn’t put it past someone to do this with the state of our politics right now.”
“[Trump] has a lot of enemies,” Sophia added. “Wonderful people have enemies just as well as some more challenging types, so no, I’m not surprised.”

Manny Garcia, a former Marine from Texas, said Trump’s apparent willingness to put his life at risk demonstrated a commitment to the United States.

“I know [Trump’s] heart is in the right place,” Garcia said, punctuating each word with a pointed finger. “Why else, if you’re a billionaire, would you risk your life, would you be willing to put your money and your family at risk?”




Reporters Alexa Bonilla and Abby Allard contributed to this report