‘Mr. Brick Suit’ describes his front-row view of Trump assassination attempt

MILWAUKEE — Outside Fiserv Forum, a man who has become something of a celebrity in MAGA circles discussed his experience as a front-row witness to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

Blake Marnell, of San Diego, is better known as “Mr. Brick Suit” or simply “Brick Suit.”

He has attended scores of Trump rallies and Republican events — including the 2024 RNC as a delegate for California — in his signature brick suit attire to show support for the construction of Trump’s long-promised border wall.

Marnell’s unique fashion sense first went viral in May 2019, when Trump spotted him in the crowd and brought the man onstage at a rally in central Pennsylvania.

But Marnell will remember this past Saturday’s Trump rally in western Pennsylvania for a much more sobering reason.

Seated in the first row of Butler Farm Show fairgrounds, Marnell says he was just 10 yards from Trump when shots were fired.

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“By the time [shots were fired], I was looking away to the slide about immigration, Marnell told the Post.

“And when I turned back to see the president, he was already on the ground, and I could see the Secret Service coming up on the stage to cover him up.”

Marnell began recording as agents covered Trump behind the podium, waiting anxiously to see his condition once he emerged.

“I could see he was all right,” Marnell said.

“He raised his fist in the air. I couldn’t tell what he was saying, but I could tell he had fight in him.”

Marnell said Trump’s look of defiance and subsequent fist-raising after the shots rang out calmed speculation in the crowd, which had reason to fear the worst.

“Without that gesture, there would be so much speculation about what happened,” Marnell told the Post.

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Though Marnell kept his camera rolling in the minutes after the shooting, he was disturbed by what he witnessed and waited until Wednesday to watch the footage.

He told The Post that seeing videos of people inside Butler Memorial Hospital — where the injured Trump was taken immediately following the shooting — compelled him to post the recording on X.

“Yesterday, I saw some footage where someone in the emergency room had posted the arrival of President Trump in the emergency room,” Marnell said.

“And I figured, Okay, if I can handle that, I can go back and look at my own now.’ And I did… It just wasn’t something I wanted to unbox prior to yesterday.”

Asked if he noticed any issues with security measures in place on Saturday, Marnell said he noticed nothing “deficient” and believes Secret Service agents responded appropriately to protect Trump.

He said some mistakes must have been made, but vowed to wait for the official report before making his final judgment.

“Clearly at some level, mistakes were made and maybe multiple mistakes,” Marnell told the Post.

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“Maybe there’s a structural problem into how long it takes for a message from local police to be relayed to Secret Service?”

Outside the RNC, Marnell quipped that the Fiserv Forum might not be suitable for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who made headlines this week when she told ABC News that agents were not atop the building where the shooter was perched because of its “sloped roof.”

“I don’t know, that roof is pretty sloped. I’m not really sure how she can come to this building,” Marnell said, pointing at the arena behind him.

“…I don’t know how she could be here. There’s ramps and everything… How could she walk in the hallways?!”

Marnell concluded by telling the Post he’s enjoyed the convention so far, and even got to speak with Trump for a moment on Monday night, who remembered Mr. Brick Suit had been front and center at his rally.

“[Trump] came over to me, reached across the Secret Service, shook my hand. And he said, ‘That was a hell of a day, wasn’t it?’” Marnell said.

“And I said, ‘Yes it was.’ But the truth is he’s a hell of a man and I think we’re lucky to have him.”

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