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For Donald Trump's first outdoor rally since the assassination attempt last month, the stage was set with a large bulletproof encasing.
In the wake of the shooting that left the former president with a bloodied ear, the US Secret Service has put in new protocols, including surrounding the podium with ballistic glass.
Storage containers were stacked around the venue in Asheboro, North Carolina, to create additional walls and block sight lines, and snipers were positioned on roofs.
New security protocols have been implemented since the attempted assasination last month. (Reuters: Jonathan Drake)
Mr Trump took the stage with a group of suited security personnel.
The group shuffled in and out of the glass pen, before Mr Trump launched into his speech.
But he later abandoned the glass caging completely to check on a woman in the crowd who was suffering a medical issue.
Accompanied by Secret Service agents, he meandered to the side of the stage towards the cheering crowd.
He hugged the woman and then strolled back to the stage as supporters chanted: "We love Trump! We love Trump!"
Trump attacks 'radical left' Harris
The former president, now GOP nominee, used his speech in the battleground state of North Carolina to attack his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris on multiple fronts including jobs and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
"All over the world, our adversaries knew that America was not to be trifled with when I was your commander in chief," he said.
Snipers were positioned on roofs at the venue. (Reuters: Jonathan Drake)
With Ms Harris drawing crowds since replacing Mr Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, the event in Asheboro was a chance for Mr Trump return to staging signature outdoor rallies.
Mr Trump has held about a dozen indoor events since he was wounded in an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
The attack left one rally participant dead before the 20-year-old gunman was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Multiple shots rang out during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, wounding Mr Trump's ear. (Reuters: Brendan McDermid)
The Secret Service reportedly recommended that Mr Trump stick to more easily controllable indoor venues such as sports arenas.
But he has insisted on continuing his outdoor events.
The event, billed as focused on national security issues, was part of Mr Trump's week-long series of counter programming to the Democratic National Convention, which is underway in Chicago.
Mr Trump has insisted on continuing outdoor rallies despite the assassination attempt. (Reuters: Jonathan Drake)
Obamas called out for 'nasty' comments
The second night of the Democrats' convention on Tuesday featured speeches from both Obamas, who went after Mr Trump in particularly biting terms.
Barack Obama mocked Mr Trump's obsession with his crowd sizes and called Trump "a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn't stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago".
"It's been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that's actually gotten worse now that he's afraid of losing to Kamala," the former president said.
The Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance joined Mr Trump onstage at the rally. (Reuters: Jonathan Drake)
Mr Trump bit back, calling his predecessor's comments "nasty".
"He was very nasty last night," Mr Trump said.
"I try and be nice to people, you know. But it's a little tough when they get personal."
Mr Trump has spent the week visiting political battleground states in his busiest week of campaigning since the Republican primaries.
ABC/Wires