President Joe Biden says he’s ready to return to the campaign trail next week, even as a growing chorus of Democratic lawmakers called for him to step aside.
Meanwhile, after wrapping their national convention in Milwaukee this week, Republican officials, strategists and activists are exuding a confidence not seen in decades.
Donald Trump on Saturday is holding his first public campaign rally since he was injured in an assassination attempt, with an event in the battleground state of Michigan alongside his new running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
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Chants of “fight, fight, fight” broke out early in Trump’s speech as he mentioned the assassination attempt.
“It was exactly one week ago,” Trump said.
“I stand before you only by the grace of almighty God,” he said. “I shouldn’t be here right now.”
“Something very special happened.”
Trump sent his best wishes to the two people who were wounded at the rally and are recovering.
And he said that 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore, a spectator who was killed, “is a hero and we will carry his memory in our hearts.”
In a speech before Trump’s arrival, his new running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, continued to introduce himself to voters. He talked about his hardscrabble upbringing, being raised by his grandmother as his mother faced addiction.
“I’ve got to be honest, it’s still a little bit weird to see my name on the signs,” he said, looking out at the crowd.
Vance also attacked Vice President Kamala Harris for her long career in government.
He said both parties signed off on sending manufacturing jobs to China and Mexico until Trump came along.
Close to an hour before Donald Trump was set to take the stage in Grand Rapids, supporters filled nearly every seat in the 12,000-person Van Andel Arena. Many wore red “Make America Great Again” hats and shirts with an image of Trump’s fist in the air after last week’s assassination attempt.
Excitement was palpable as people waited, with “U-S-A” chants breaking out frequently. Music blasted, and the crowd did the wave.
Michigan GOP chairman Pete Hoekstra told the audience that he had just returned from the Republican National Convention and the party is more unified than ever. He was followed by Michigan Rep. Tim Wahlberg and Trump’s newly minted running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
Supporters of Republican Donald Trump crowded the streets of downtown Grand Rapids in anticipation of the former president’s remarks Saturday evening.
Numerous streets, closed for security reasons, were dotted with vendors selling food and apparel. Among them was a vendor from North Carolina who had traveled to Michigan earlier in the day, who said that he had spent the night making shirts featuring “Trump Vance ’24,” referencing U.S. Sen. JD Vance, the former president’s running mate.
Mike Gaydos, who had traveled from Indiana with his three sons to attend the rally, wore a shirt stating, “I’m voting for the felon not the kid sniffer.” Despite not considering himself a “huge” Trump supporter in the past, Gaydos said he wanted to support the former president following a recent assassination attempt on Trump.
Downtown Grand Rapids also saw a significant police presence, with officers stationed on nearly every block, while others patrolled on horseback and bicycles.
“This is the tightest I’ve ever seen the security,” said Renee White, who said that she’s been to 33 of Trump’s rallies.
White was seated behind the podium in Butler, Pennsylvania when the former president was injured in an assassination attempt. She described the shooting as “surreal” but said that it wouldn’t stop her from going to rallies.