Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump and his running mate for vice president, JD Vance, made their first joint appearance at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday.
Trump is back on the campaign trail, aiming to win a second term. This Michigan trip is his first campaign event since the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last Saturday.
Unlike previous outdoor venues, this event took place indoors at the Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids, which can accommodate 12,000 people.
According to reports from the Associated Press, due to last Saturday’s shooting incident, the campaign rally was under high security. The downtown area of Grand Rapids was heavily policed, with officers stationed on almost every block, as well as patrol personnel on horseback and bicycles.
The heightened security measures outside the venue created a tense atmosphere. Some attendees mentioned feeling nervous about drones hovering above them. Attendees had to pass through metal detectors upon entering the arena, but the deployment of security personnel inside the venue seemed similar to previous events.
Several hours before Trump took the stage, his supporters filled the streets of downtown Grand Rapids, eagerly anticipating the former president’s speech. Supporters began queuing on Friday morning, and by Saturday afternoon, the line extended over a mile from the entrance.
Inside the packed arena, many people were wearing shirts with an image of Trump post-assassination attempt raising his fist on stage, and sporting red hats with the slogan “Make America Great Again.”
During the rally, Trump recounted last Saturday’s shooting incident. Trump narrowly escaped a bullet, suffering only a light wound to his ear. One supporter in the crowd died, while two others were injured. The gunman was shot dead on the spot.
The white gauze on his ear has now been replaced with a flesh-colored bandage. Trump mentioned that he narrowly avoided the bullet that hit his ear by chance, as he glanced at a map of southern border immigration conditions projected on a giant screen. He said, “I owe my life to the immigration agency, that’s the truth.”
He expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support he received post-injury from across the country, as well as the well-wishes from world leaders. He attributed his luck to his faith, saying, “I stand before you, by the grace of almighty God, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
Trump also paid tribute to 50-year-old supporter, Corey Comperatore, who tragically died during last Saturday’s campaign rally, hailing him as a “great firefighter” and a “hero” for shielding his wife and daughter from bullets.
After being formally nominated as the presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday, Trump announced Ohio Senator Vance as his running mate. This event marks their first joint campaign rally appearance.
Vance delivered a brief speech before Trump’s arrival, stating, “It’s hard to believe that a week ago an assassin attempted to take Trump’s life, and now we have so many people in Michigan welcoming him back to the campaign trail.”
Returning to his usual rally style following an unusually subdued performance at the Republican Convention, Trump entertained the audience with jokes and jabs at opponents during his nearly 2-hour speech, eliciting laughter and enthusiastic responses.
In addition, Michigan Republican businessman Sandy Pensler announced his withdrawal from the Senate race at the rally, endorsing former Congressman Mike Rogers. Rogers, endorsed by Trump, had previously served as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The state’s Republican primary is scheduled for August 6.
Following Trump’s rally speech, President Biden shared his views on social media platform X, saying, “This is the most important election of our lifetime, and I will win.” Biden, who tested positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday, is currently recuperating at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Michigan is one of the crucial swing states that can determine the outcome of the presidential election. In 2016, Trump won the state by a narrow margin of over 10,000 votes. However, in 2020, Joe Biden secured the state with a lead of more than 150,000 votes, successfully winning the presidency.