Thousands Gather for Trump’s First Rally Since Assassination Attempt

Thousands of people have gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for Donald Trump’s first public rally since a gunman attempted to assassinate him last week in Pennsylvania. The former president is scheduled to address the crowd at the Van Del Arena around 17:00 EST (22:00 BST) on Saturday, but enthusiastic supporters began lining up in the morning.

A queue stretched for about three miles (4.8 km) outside the arena, which has a capacity of 12,000 people. Doors opened at 13:00 EST, and within two hours, the venue was filled to capacity. This rally marks a significant shift from last week’s event in Butler, Pennsylvania, by being held indoors, allowing for tighter security measures to monitor attendees and mitigate external threats.

Last week, shooter William Crooks was able to target Trump in Pennsylvania by climbing onto a nearby building’s roof. The attack resulted in Trump being wounded in the ear and an audience member losing their life.

Despite the recent violence, Trump’s supporters in Michigan were undeterred. They showed up in large numbers, sporting red Make America Great Again hats, cowboy hats, American flag-themed outfits, and T-shirts featuring Trump’s mug shot, which were also available for sale at the rally.

This rally is also notable as the first time Trump will appear on the campaign trail with his vice-presidential pick, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. The event is part of several campaign stops Trump has made in the key battleground state, with polls showing a close race against President Joe Biden.