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 will hold 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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Trump backers pack Michigan arena
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 crowd into downtown Grand Rapids ahead of Trump’s rally
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.
