Sorting by

×

Trump tells thousands at Michigan rally he ‘took a bullet for democracy’ 

Donald Trump held his first rally since he was injured following an attempted assassination last Saturday, telling crowds he “took a bullet for democracy”.

The event in Grand Rapids, Michigan was also the first with his new running mate Ohio Senator, JD Vance.

“They keep saying [I’m] a threat to democracy,” he told his supporters. “I’m saying, what the hell did I do for democracy?

“Last week, I took a bullet for democracy. What did I do against democracy?”

There was a heavy police presence throughout the surrounding area, with US Secret Service officers positioned on the top balconies of the 12,000-person Van Del Arena.

The former President told crowds that he would “take back the White House in a monumental landslide” and thanked divine intervention for his survival from the incident last Saturday, saying he was only here due to “the grace of god”.

Michigan is a key swing state, which has historically moved between Republican and Democrat, and is an important battleground in the run-up to the 2024 Presidential Election.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump stands with Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), as he holds a rally for the first time with his running mate, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. July 20, 2024. REUTERS/Tom Brenner REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump stands with Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), as he holds a rally for the first time with his running mate. Photo by: REUTERS/Tom

During the rally, Vance fired shots at Joe Biden’s running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, saying: “What the hell have you done other than collect the check?”

The Ohio senator told crowds about his childhood growing up in poverty in the midwestern “Rust Belt” and his career in military – his experiences were the basis of the 2016 bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy”.

Mr Vance’s appointment was officially announced last week at the 2024 Republican Convention, where numerous attendees wore fake bandages on their ears to show solidarity with the president.

The thick white bandage Trump wore at the Republican convention was replaced by a smaller beige-coloured bandage.

The former President also attacked the Democrats for “leadership chaos” within their party, calling Mr Biden a “feeble old guy”.

“They have no idea who their candidate is, and neither do we,” he said.

Trump also attacked former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying: “She’s as crazy as a bed bug.”

The former President also denied any knowledge of Project 2025, a document put together by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation, which contained a speculative plan for Trump’s second term.

He said: “I don’t know anything about it, and I don’t want to know anything about it.”

Unlike Trump, Mr Biden is facing increased pressure to pull out of the race with 36 Democrats calling for the US President to step aside.

It is thought former president Barack Obama and influential Democrats, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi have reportedly called on Mr Biden to drop out in private.

Mr Biden, who is recovering from Covid, has so far refused to rule drop out of the race despite growing party pressure.

Source link

Related Articles

Back to top button