GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — 13 ON YOUR SIDE talked with a former state homeland security advisor ahead of Former President Trump and running mate JD Vance's visit to Grand Rapids this weekend.
Their event comes one week after the attempted assassination of the current republican presidential nominee.
The pair will speak inside Van Andel Arena Saturday evening in their first rally together since accepting their nominations. Thousands are expected to be in the vicinity of the large event venue which is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, bars and museums.
Ahead of the visit, Former State of Michigan Homeland Security Advisor and Army General Michael McDaniel told 13 ON YOUR SIDE, "there's a high level of preparation that will be going on by the Secret Service."
He said security is a group effort between the Secret Service, local and state law enforcement.
"Everything they're doing in the interior will probably be the same, they will just tighten it up in terms of, you know, no bags whatsoever, increased magnetometers or increased scrutiny at the magnetometers."
McDaniel predicts additional security outside the arena, adding, "size of the crowd requires, and the types of events that we've seen recently require, I think, an expansion of the exterior perimeter because of the possibility of there again being violence against the crowd itself."
If you're not going to the rally, he recommends skipping out on downtown Grand Rapids altogether on Saturday.
"Let's make it easier for law enforcement and not be there just to be the crowd watching the crowd, that's not helpful."