Former President Donald Trump held his first campaign rally since surviving an assassination attempt last weekend, addressing a crowd at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday.
The event came on the heels of Trump’s official nomination at the Republican National Convention (RNC) and recent legal victories.
Heightened Security Measures
Security was notably tighter at the Michigan rally, with the U.S. Secret Service taking the lead following the incident in Butler, Pennsylvania. Local law enforcement agencies, including the Grand Rapids Police Department, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, and Michigan State Police, provided additional support.
Trump’s Appearance, No Bandage
As Trump took the stage, he sported a smaller, beige-colored bandage on his ear, a visible reminder of the recent assassination attempt. The former president had been wearing a visible, white bandage over his right ear following the attempt on his life in Pennsylvania.
Despite the ordeal, Trump appeared energetic and defiant, addressing the incident and praising the actions of his security team and first responders.
JD Vance’s Debut as Running Mate
Ohio Senator JD Vance made his first appearance as Trump’s newly announced running mate. In his 13-minute speech, Vance focused on appealing to blue-collar and middle-class voters in key Rust Belt states.
He attacked the Biden administration’s border policies and echoed Trump’s “Make America Safe Again” slogan.
Vance criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her role as “border czar,” calling it a disaster. He emphasized his own humble beginnings in Ohio and stressed the importance of restoring the American dream for every child in the country.
“Took a Bullet for Democracy” Claim
In a striking moment during the rally, Trump declared that he “took a bullet for democracy.” This statement was a direct reference to the assassination attempt at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last weekend.
Rep. Ronny Jackson, Trump’s physician, has stated that a bullet grazed Trump’s right ear during the incident.
Impromptu “Poll” on Democratic Opponents
In a notable moment, Trump paused to comment on recent efforts by some Democrats to push President Biden off their ticket. He then conducted an impromptu “poll” with the Republican audience, asking who they most wanted him to run against.
Trump first mentioned Vice President Kamala Harris, mispronouncing her name, which elicited boos from the crowd.
When he named “crooked Joe Biden,” the crowd’s booing intensified significantly. Trump also mentioned Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan, who received boos but not as loudly as those for Biden.
Controversial Remarks on Foreign Leaders
Trump doubled down on his praise for leaders that the Biden administration and other U.S. officials have condemned as dictators. He spoke positively about Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing him as a “brilliant man” who controls 1.4 billion people with an “iron fist.” Trump asserted that Xi makes people like Biden look like “babies” in comparison.
In a notable revelation, Trump claimed that Xi and other world leaders had reached out to him following last week’s assassination attempt. “I got along very well with President Xi, who’s a great guy,” Trump said. “He wrote me a beautiful note the other day when he heard about what happened.”
Trump extended this claim to other global leaders, stating, “Most of the leaders did, you know, a lot of them didn’t like what I was doing to them, but they also knew it was about time, the jig was up, right? It was about time. But they wrote me, almost all of them wrote me notes. It was nice.”
The former president used these purported communications to emphasize his international relationships, adding, “No, I have a good relationship with all of them. That’s a good thing.”
Acknowledging the scrutiny his praise of Xi often draws in the press, Trump remained undeterred, even expanding on his comments. He went further by describing both Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “smart” and “tough.”
Distancing from Project 2025
In a surprising move, Trump used the rally to distance himself from Project 2025, a conservative policy initiative run by some of his allies. He declared that he is not an “extremist” and criticized the project as an effort from the “severe right” and “seriously extreme.”
Trump positioned Project 2025 as “the opposite of the radical left,” seemingly attempting to portray himself as a more moderate choice in the upcoming election. This marks a significant escalation in Trump’s efforts to separate himself from the Heritage Foundation-led initiative, which has been a target of criticism from Democrats.
Looking Ahead
As the rally concluded, Trump promised a vigorous campaign in the coming months, with a particular focus on battleground states like Michigan.
The 2024 presidential race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched in recent American history, with legal battles still looming for Trump and questions about Biden’s political future persisting.
Newsweek contacted the Trump-Vance campaign via email on Saturday for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.