The U.S- Capitol is beefing up defenses around its premises ahead of a Trump rally set to be held on Saturday

Washington, September 14 (RHC)-- The U.S- Capitol is beefing up defenses around its premises ahead of a Trump rally set to be held on Saturday, the 18th.  The measures reportedly involve returning the fence surrounding the U.S. Capitol months after former President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Congress to overturn election results in his favor.

"The fence will go up a day or two before, and if everything goes well it will come down very soon after," Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger told reporters.   It was not clear how threatening the rally was assessed to be by lawmakers and police protecting the premises.

"They seemed very, very well prepared — much better prepared than before January 6th.  I think they're ready for whatever might happen," said Senate top Democrat Charles Schumer.

Meanwhile, a 44-year-old California man was arrested for carrying a bayonet and a machete just outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters.  A special operation division officer who was on patrol arrested Donald Craighead after pulling over his Dodge Dakota pickup truck that featured a swastika among the white supremacist symbols.

“This is good police work plain and simple,” Chief Tom Manger said in a statement.  “We applaud the officers’ keen observation and the teamwork that resulted in this arrest.”

“This is an excellent example of the work our officers do every day,” Operational Services Bureau Deputy Chief Jason Bell added.  “We are so proud of these officers for their vigilance.”

The Capitol police was especially concerned because of the successful entrance of Trump supporters deep into the Capitol on January 6th, when the former president claimed that he was the true winner of the 2020 presidential election and not Joe Biden.