Trump Insults Biden, Pelosi in First Rally Since Assassination Attempt

 Republican Nominee Delivers Fiery Two-Hour Speech Mocking Democrats and Repeating False Election Fraud Claims

Grand Rapids, Michigan — Former President Donald Trump held his first campaign rally since surviving an assassination attempt last week, delivering a two-hour speech where he targeted Democrats with insults and repeated false claims about immigration and election fraud.

Amid heightened security, Trump mocked President Joe Biden as "feeble" and compared former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to a "dog." The crowd cheered as Trump called on them to "fight, fight, fight," referencing his defiant gesture after the assassination attempt.

Rally Highlights and Support

Al Jazeera’s Phil Lavelle reported that Trump’s supporters gathered in large numbers to show their backing for the candidate in Michigan, a critical battleground state for the upcoming election.

"For hours before this rally began, there were queues. People were lining up for miles," Lavelle said. Supporters wore T-shirts and hats emblazoned with Trump’s image and the words “fight, fight, fight.”

Insults and False Claims

In his speech, Trump described Biden as a “stupid” and “low-IQ individual” and accused Democrats of wanting to remove Biden from the ticket after his nomination.

“They have a couple of problems. Number one, they have no idea who their candidate is,” Trump said. Referring to Pelosi, Trump said, “She’s turned on him like a dog. She’s as crazy as a bed bug.” He also denigrated Vice President Kamala Harris as “crazy.”

Trump repeated false claims of election fraud in 2020, urging voters to deliver a “landslide that is too big to rig.”

Immigration and International Relations

The Republican candidate also threatened undocumented migrants and claimed an "invasion" over the US border. He accused Democrats of allowing it to happen for political gain.

Trump touted his relationships with global leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. He called Xi a “great guy” and mentioned receiving a “beautiful note” from him after the assassination attempt.

Reactions and Criticism

Al Jazeera’s Lavelle noted this rally marked the first joint campaign appearance of Trump and JD Vance. “This becomes a two-man campaign now where they both try to spread the MAGA message,” Lavelle said.

Despite calls for lowering rhetoric after the assassination attempt, Trump’s speech remained aggressive. Democratic strategist Arshad Hasan said Trump and Vance have taken a highly negative tone, undermining calls for unity.

Biden’s Position and Democratic Concerns

Meanwhile, Biden remains in self-isolation after contracting COVID-19. Campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler stated Biden's return details will be announced soon. Biden has refocused on Trump, criticizing his acceptance speech at the Republican convention.

Opinion polls indicate a tight national race, with Biden trailing in key battleground states. Democrats are increasingly concerned about Biden’s re-election prospects after his poor debate performance last month. However, replacing Biden at this stage poses significant challenges.

Arshad Hasan, a Democratic political strategist, acknowledged the turmoil within the Democratic Party but emphasized the difficulty of replacing Biden so close to the election.

“The real discussion is how we would decide, with about 100 days for the election, who would be on the top of the ticket. That is where there isn’t a clear answer. Biden is the one person who can make that decision. And so far he said he’s staying.”