GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NewsNation) — Former President Donald Trump held his first public campaign rally since the attempt on his life during a Pennsylvania campaign stop last week.
“It was exactly one week ago, even to the hour, even to the minute,” Trump said, reflecting on the July 13 shooting in Pennsylvania that left him with a bloodied ear, killed one supporter in the crowd and left two others injured.
“I stand before you only by the grace of almighty God,” he said, the white gauze on his ear now replaced by a skin-colored bandage. “I shouldn’t be here right now.”
The event in Grand Rapids also featured an appearance by Trump’s newly announced running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
“I find it hard to believe that a week ago, an assassin tried to take Donald Trump’s life, and now we have got a hell of a crowd in Michigan to welcome him back on the campaign trail,” Vance said.
The former president opened by offering a “very special thanks to Americans nationwide, including all of you here today for your extraordinary outpouring of love and support in the wake of the horrific last Saturday evening.”
The crowd responded by chanting, “Fight, fight, fight!” The gauze on his ear appeared to have been replaced by a skin-colored bandage.
The GOP nominee called Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who died after shielding his family from bullets at Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania rally, a “great hero” and thanked medical professionals for his treatment.
“I’m not supposed to be here tonight,” Trump told the packed convention hall. The crowd of thousands, which was listening in silence, shouted back, “Yes, you are.”
Michigan is one of the handful of crucial swing states expected to determine the outcome of November’s presidential election. Trump narrowly won the state by just over 10,000 votes in 2016, but Democrat Joe Biden flipped it back in 2020, winning by a margin of 154,000 votes on his way to the presidency.
Trump elaborated on his choice of Vance, telling the 12,000-person Van Andel Arena: “I chose him because he’s for the worker.”
The pair are fresh from the Republican National Convention, where they garnered support from former rivals and allies alike.
Hours before he took the stage, Trump’s supporters crowded the streets of downtown Grand Rapids in anticipation of the former president’s remarks. Supporters began lining up Friday morning, and by Saturday afternoon, the line stretched close to a mile from the venue’s entrance.
For security reasons, numerous streets were closed 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.”
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 she’s been to 33 of Trump’s rallies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.