Parts of Washington D.C. were fortified and former President Donald Trump’s election headquarters in Florida beefed up security on Sunday, Nov. 3, just ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The moves come as fears of Election Day violence grows in a post-Jan. 6, 2021 world and an assassination attempt against Trump in July.
Law enforcement in Washington D.C. is not taking any chances this year after deadly riots during the 2020 election, when certification of President Joe Biden’s win got underway.
All 3,300 Metropolitan Police Department officers will be mobilized and work 12-hour shifts through Election Day, though officials maintain that there is currently no credible threat.
Meanwhile, private security firms are also beefing up efforts. One security firm says it’s deploying around 2,000 private personnel for 12-hour shifts at clients’ buildings surrounding the White House.
Additionally, 8-foot-high metal fences are being installed around the White House and Vice President Kamala Harris’ home at the Naval Observatory is fenced off.
Both Trump and Harris’ election watch parties are being heavily guarded as well. Trump’s election base will be at West Palm Beach, Florida’s convention center, where the U.S. Secret Service confirmed “physical barriers” are in place.
First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump flew out of New York City on Sunday, Nov. 3, to join the former president in Florida to watch the election results.
Harris’ location at Howard University will have surrounding streets closed and restricted parking.
Furthermore, local businesses are also boarding up windows and others are erecting walls. Establishments in the district report fewer customers as Election Day approaches. Some business owners believe the decline is over Election Day anxiety among Americans as many would rather stay in the safety of their homes.
