Trump reveals the Democratic candidate he wants to run against and gives his thoughts on Project 2025 at huge rally a week after horror shooting: 'I took a bullet for democracy'

Donald Trump has held his first run rally since being changeable and thanked his supporters for their outpouring of emotion while ridiculing Democrats for being a statement of corrupt insiders intent connected dislodging their leader successful a coup.

Gone was nan big, white, gauze-filled bandage that he wore during nan week to protect his wounded ear. It was replaced pinch a smaller, flesh-colored dressing.

'Last week I took a slug for democracy,' he said Saturday.

As Joe Biden, 81, recovers out-of-sight astatine location from COVID-19, 78-year-old Trump walked retired to a thunderous welcome, providing an bonzer governmental divided surface for nan 2024 election.

While 1 president fights for his governmental life, different has survived a 2020 defeat, a criminal condemnation and an assassin's slug to erstwhile again guidelines astride his party.

He returned to nan shape successful Grand Rapids a changed man, according to his confidants.

But he launched quickly into his accustomed rally schtick, holding a canvass of his supporters to find retired who they would astir for illustration to look successful nan election.

They booed for Vice President Kamala Harris, but booed moreover harder for Biden.

'I don't deliberation we person to spell excessively overmuch further,' said Trump, earlier turning his attraction to Michigan's Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is besides spoken of arsenic a imaginable candidate.

'You person a unspeakable politician who did a unspeakable job. i'd for illustration to tally against her.'

After nan formality of nan Republican National Convention and its delegates past week successful Milwaukee, Trump reveled successful nan adoration of his writer roots supporters.

He utilized nan juncture to region himself from nan extremist Project 25 scheme developed by friends and erstwhile officials arsenic a blueprint for a 2nd Trump administration.

'Some connected nan correct - terrible correct - came up pinch this Project 25,' he said. 'And I don't moreover cognize ... they're sorta nan other of nan extremist near ... I don't cognize what nan hellhole it is ... immoderate of nan things - they're earnestly extreme.'

Democrats person deed him pinch nan utmost plans. 'I don't cognize what nan hellhole it is,' claimed Trump.

Security was visibly tighter than different rallies. Not only was it held indoors, but bags were checked successful overmuch adjacent item than accustomed by Secret Service agents beside nan Magnetometers. 

Michigan is 1 of nan cardinal swing states that could determine nan result of nan election. Trump won it by a small much than 10,000 votes successful 2016, but Joe Biden flipped it 4 years later.

Grand Rapids holds peculiar typical value for Trump. He held his last election rally of nan 2016 run present earlier securing a daze win.

He returned for his last 2020 rally but could not unafraid victory. 

During nan past week family, advisers and officials each said nan shooting had changed Trump and his statement normal reside connected Thursday was billed arsenic a chance to telephone for unity and understanding.

That lasted astir 15 minutes arsenic nan erstwhile president quickly segued into a rally speech, slamming Biden, 'crazy Nancy Pelosi,' and his accustomed targets. 

On Saturday he went consecutive into his accustomed barnstorming rally fare, overmuch to nan delight of an service of fans that wasn't astir to beryllium deterred by nan mini matter of an assassin's bullet. 

'One of nan messages that President Trump put retired aft what happened successful Butler was a connection that could champion beryllium characterized by 2 words: Fear not,' said Blake Marnell, a seasoned of much than 40 rallies.

Dressed successful his celebrated 'brick suit,' he was coming successful Butler, little than 10 yards from Trump, arsenic he was changeable successful nan receptor and Secret Service agents bundled him to nan ground.

Beside him were different 'Front Row Joes' who recreation nan state from rally to rally.

'We saw nan manus of God protecting nan president past week and I consciousness safe being present because that hands protects each of america here,' said Rick Lane, 55, from Pennsylvania, wearing 1 of nan 'I bleed red, white, and Trump' T-shirts made by his ain apparel company.