Washington DC:

Former US President Donald Trump held a substantial election rally on Saturday in Michigan, marking his first public appearance since surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. Trump addressed a crowd of 12,000 supporters, dismissing accusations of being a threat to democracy and claiming he “took a bullet for democracy” after narrowly escaping an attack where he sustained a bullet graze to his right ear.

Asserting his stance as “not an extremist at all,” Trump intensified his campaign efforts despite the recent incident. He refuted any association with Project 2025, a contentious manifesto linked to his inner circle, criticized by opponents as an authoritarian agenda.

During his speech, Trump took shots at the Democratic Party, criticizing their handling of the 2020 election and questioning President Joe Biden’s eligibility for re-election, citing concerns over Biden’s age and mental acuity. Trump accused Democrats of attempting to undermine democratic processes by challenging election results.

Trump also emphasized his stance on immigration policies and highlighted issues related to crimes committed by migrants. He reiterated claims of election fraud in 2020 and expressed admiration for foreign leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping, whom he praised for his control over the population.

Sporting a new, smaller flesh-colored bandage over his injured ear, Trump’s rally marked a significant moment in his political comeback just one week after the violent incident in Pennsylvania, where a 20-year-old assailant fired shots at his rally, resulting in casualties.

The attempted assassination left one dead and two critically injured before the assailant was shot dead by the US Secret Service. Trump’s resilience in returning to the campaign trail underscored his determination ahead of upcoming political challenges.