After Trump shooting, CT delegates say they feel safe at Republican National Convention

Connecticut sent 28 delegates to the RNC, along with dozens more alternates and guests.

John Craven and CNN

Jul 15, 2024, 8:46 PM

Updated 94 days ago

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Just two days after a gunman shot at former President Donald Trump, 100 top Republicans from Connecticut kicked-off the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday.
CT DELEGATION
Despite the assassination attempt, delegates said they feel safe. But the tone of the convention has changed dramatically.
"Milwaukee was going to be the safest city in America before the Saturday situation – assassination attempt. And it still is," said Connecticut Republican Party chair Ben Proto, who arrived a week ago. "They have been building the perimeter and they've been building all the security points over the last couple of weeks here."
Connecticut sent 28 delegates to the RNC, along with dozens more alternates and guests.
NO SECURITY CHANGES
The Secret Service said there are no changes to security.
"It's been an 18 month process," said Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, the Secret Service's RNC coordinator. "We've worked together over that 18 months to develop operational security plans for any and all aspects of security related to this event."
Local police are overseeing the "soft perimeter" outside the convention floor. One challenge for them is that Wisconsin state law allows "open carry" of firearms in that area.
"There is some challenges with that," said Milwaukee police chief Jeffrey Norman. "But we're in constant communication with our elected leaders and also our partners and we're going to see what are going to be the opportunities in regards to dealing with that particular challenge."
POLITICAL IMPACT
Beyond security is the political impact. Connecticut Democrats said the rhetoric has gotten way too heated.
"It has been fraught anger, with divisiveness, with targeting people," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-New Haven). "We should not jump to conclusions. And I would hope that, that wouldn't be the case. But let's investigate. Let's find out what happened. Let's correct it, so that this kind of thing does not happen again."
Trump himself has stoked much of that anger – particularly before the Jan. 6 riot at U.S. Capitol But Proto expects a call for unity this week.
"I think you're going to hear him talk about turning the temperature down," Proto said. "Let's talk about issues. Let's talk about where we're going in this country."
But Proto also expects Trump to campaign off the assassination attempt. He called the image of the former president raising his fist in the air after he was grazed by a bullet "the greatest political poster that has ever been created."