Former US President Donald Trump portrayed the recent assassination attempt on him as an act of sacrifice in his first campaign event following the incident, which was attended by thousands of his ardent supporters. Last week, Trump was targeted during a rally in the Butler area of Pennsylvania, and the bullet grazed the upper part of his right ear.
The assailant, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks (20), was neutralised by the US Secret Service.
A week later, holding a campaign event in Michigan, Trump spoke about the shooting, noting Democrats often accuse him of being a threat to democracy.
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“Last week, I took a bullet for democracy,” he told the supporters in the arena in Grand Rapids, reported BBC. “What did I do against democracy?”
Trump was not scheduled to speak during the event until 17:00 EST with new running mate JD Vance, but people began campaigning out in a queue as early as the night before.
By 13:00 EST, a line stretched about three miles (4.8km) outside the 12,000-person Van Del Arena, reported BBC.
Trump addressed the audience with a discreet flesh-toned plaster covering his wound, which took the place of the noticeable white bandage he had worn at the Republican convention.
In his address, Trump thanked the thousands and thousands” of people who came to see him “almost exactly” a week after the assassination attempt.
“I stand before you only by the grace of almighty God,” he said, reiterating his belief that divine intervention saved him from being killed.
The assassination attempt appears to have generated sympathy and supportive sentiments for Trump. Numerous attendees at Saturday’s rally informed the BBC that the event has not deterred their support for the Republican presidential candidate. In fact, some mentioned that the shooting was the reason for their attendance.
In last week’s shooting, a member of the audience was killed while two others were injured.
