The New York Yankees and federal security agencies deployed visible protective measures at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night as President Donald Trump attended a game to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, officials said and images showed.
A row of reinforced glass panels was positioned in front of the area where the president was to sit, and personnel positioned on elevated locations overlooked the field, images released Thursday showed. The added security came just over 24 hours after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, an incident that prompted stepped-up protection for high-profile public appearances.
"President Trump receives the highest levels of U.S. Secret Service protection and the agency adjusts our protective posture as needed to mitigate evolving threats," the U.S. Secret Service said in a statement shared with The Wall Street Journal and reviewed by reporters. "Individuals in and around Yankee Stadium tonight can expect to see increased law enforcement presence. Out of concern for operational security, we cannot discuss the specific means and methods used for our protective operations."
Yankees officials also warned fans to arrive early because of the extra security protocols. Fans were seen in extended security lines as they entered the stadium, and the team said it had taken steps intended to make the process as seamless as possible while alerting attendees to potential delays.
Asked on the White House lawn before leaving for Yankee Stadium whether he was worried about his safety, Trump said, "Not really. I'm really concerned for our country. We have a great country. We have a radical left group of lunatics out there, just absolute lunatics and we're gonna get that problem solved. I'm only concerned for the country."
The visible protections at the Bronx ballpark come amid a string of attacks and alleged plots involving political figures. Authorities this week released images of a suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, and separately a suspect has gone on trial in a case alleging an attempt to shoot the president while he was playing golf in South Florida last year. U.S. security officials also responded to an incident in which a gunman fired multiple shots at the president while he campaigned in Pennsylvania; law enforcement said one bullet grazed the president's ear and a Secret Service counter-sniper neutralized the attacker.
At Yankee Stadium, the heightened security overlapped with solemn observances tied to both the 9/11 anniversary and the killing of Kirk. The Yankees held a moment of silence to honor Kirk before Thursday's game. Some fans and public figures reacted on social media after the shooting, and other sporting events over recent days have seen amplified security and fan delays connected to presidential appearances.
Security measures for large public events have varied in visibility and impact. Organizers at the U.S. Open last weekend delayed a match and apologized after heavy security and screening associated with the president's presence contributed to long lines and entry delays at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Tournament organizers said they had coordinated with law enforcement and sponsors about the president's appearance.
The Secret Service statement emphasized that the agency tailors its protective posture "as needed to mitigate evolving threats" and asked the public to anticipate an increased law enforcement presence around events with protective details. Yankees network operators said they had not been instructed to censor crowd reactions.
Authorities in Utah have released images of a person of interest in the Kirk killing and have asked the public for information. Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect in custody in connection with the shooting.
Thursday's visible security measures at Yankee Stadium underscored the challenges law enforcement faces securing high-profile figures at public events. Officials said they were balancing the protective needs of the president with the need to minimize disruption for other attendees and to preserve operational security for protective operations.