Yes, that is what I'm telling you. Because there are two types of "security" when you're talking about heads of state and such.

1. There's the security that you're talking about, which is guys with rifles, drones, cameras, quick-response teams, and so forth. Those guys are DEFINITELY out there and doing their jobs.

2. There's "ceremonial" security. These guys are still security, but they're the ones who are supposed to be visible, and therefore, will be doing things like standing in formations, wearing colors, and that sort of thing.

Like, you know the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? The guys pacing that for hours every day ARE "security." They can and will defend that tomb if they have to. But since they are "ceremonial" security, they perform their security in a very procedural, stylized way, because they're seen by the public and will have a different way of presenting themselves.

If you've ever watched the Swiss Guard at the Vatican, you'll see the same thing. Those guys are wearing hilariously colorful and impractical outfits, but it's because they're on ceremonial duty. They can and will still fuck you up in the course of their duties if necessary.

So yes, the public security team will be facing in different directions, roughly in formation, standing at attention or parade rest. Because they're being presentable in military fashion. The heavier duty security are people you're rarely going to see on camera, and they're the ones covering the angles that public security is not.

BTW, unless you think the Reuters is fabricating a story from Nahaku McFadden, the public affairs person for the National Guard, then they have already confirmed that this was all standard security procedure. I'm not sure I can link it here, but we have absolutely no reason to believe this as a lie beyond REALLY wanting to.

Yes, that is what I'm telling you. Because there are two types of "security" when you're talking about heads of state and such.

1. There's the security that you're talking about, which is guys with rifles, drones, cameras, quick-response teams, and so forth. Those guys are DEFINITELY out there and doing their jobs.

2. There's "ceremonial" security. These guys are still security, but they're the ones who are supposed to be visible, and therefore, will be doing things like standing in formations, wearing colors, and that sort of thing.

Like, you know the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? The guys pacing that for hours every day ARE "security." They can and will defend that tomb if they have to. But since they are "ceremonial" security, they perform their security in a very procedural, stylized way, because they're seen by the public and will have a different way of presenting themselves.

If you've ever watched the Swiss Guard at the Vatican, you'll see the same thing. Those guys are wearing hilariously colorful and impractical outfits, but it's because they're on ceremonial duty. They can and will still fuck you up in the course of their duties if necessary.

So yes, the public security team will be facing in different directions, roughly in formation, standing at attention or parade rest. Because they're being presentable in military fashion. The heavier duty security are people you're rarely going to see on camera, and they're the ones covering the angles that public security is not.