Security measures surrounding Donald Trump must be ramped up drastically to ensure he is safe at future events, his close friend Dr Roger Gewolb has told GB News.
He said the former president should perhaps be afforded similar treatment given to the Pope.
It comes after Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania, leading to dramatic scenes where he was rushed off the stage to safety.
Speaking on GB News, Gewolb said he expects Trump to return to the campaign trail tomorrow with “beefed up security”.
Dr Roger Gewolb reacted to Donald Trump's shooting on GB News
GB NEWS
“I think if Trump has proper protection, he can be safe”, he said.
“You will notice it doesn’t look as if there was any sort of shield in front of him. He might have been shot from the side.
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“The Pope rides around in a perspex motorbike and that is what you have to do when you have hate-filled nutters out there who are determined to kill people whose political views they disagree with.”
Gewolb said the scenes in Pennsylvania will only serve to make the president “more popular” as he continues in his efforts to get re-elected.
“It will only make him more popular”, he said.
“I don’t know where Biden will fit in, but you see this man showing resolve and there is a difference between him and poor old Joe who forgets where he is.
IN PICTURES: Donald Trump is finally escorted from stage as crowd rallies to former presidentGETTY IMAGES/TRUMP CAMPAIGN OFFICE/HANDOUT“Trump needs protection and needs it fast.”
World leaders have waded in to condemn the shooting of Trump, including Sir Keir Starmer who said he was “appalled” by the shooting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who recently returned from Washington DC for the 75th anniversary of Nato, said he hopes the US “emerges stronger” from the shooting.
“Such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world,” he continued in a post to X, formerly Twitter.
IN PICTURES: Donald Trump raises fist and mouths 'fight' to crowdGETTY IMAGES/TRUMP CAMPAIGN OFFICE/HANDOUT“Never should violence prevail.
“I am relieved to learn that Donald Trump is now safe and wish him a speedy recovery.
“My condolences go out to the close ones of this attack’s victim, a rally attendee.
“I extend my wishes for strength to everyone who is horrified by this event. I wish America emerges stronger from this.”