Thousands of people attend Trump’s first rally since assassination attempt

Thousands of people showed up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to support former President Donald Trump just one week after his assassination attempt. 

“It was exactly one week ago today, almost to the hour, even to the minute,” Trump said to rallygoers in Van Andel Arena.

Supporters filled the 12,000-person stadium, from floor to ceiling, to hear Trump speak on the evening of July 20. This was Trump’s first rally since an assassin wounded him and two attendees, killing another, at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

Hours before the rally, Secret Service agents and Grand Rapids police officers patrolled outside the Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids. Police blocked off the surrounding streets, and officers on horseback rode back and forth. Hurricane fences and steel barricades guided the crowd to a security checkpoint, and Secret Service K-9 detection units — allegedly absent from the Butler rally — scanned for anything suspicious.

Trump said during his speech that “crowds of people” were still outside for “blocks and blocks.”

A New Enthusiasm

An almost religious air filled the crowd for the divine providence that saved Trump from an assassin’s bullet. People distributed Scripture on the sidewalks outside the entrance. Clothes bearing crosses, Scripture verses, and religious messages dotted the crowd.

Rep. Tim Walberg. R-Mich., delivered an invocation that roughly followed The Lord’s Prayer, in the name of “my savior Jesus Christ.”

Walberg opened by asking those who believe God listens to prayer to raise their hands. The crowd responded with raised hands and applause, and Walberg said, “It’s close to 100 percent.” Shouts of “Jesus” rose from the crowd.

“If you don’t believe that God intervenes in the affairs of men, I’d like to ask you to reconsider,” Walberg said. “I would hope that those that weren’t able to raise their hands would at least give a chance to see what God can do through a people committed to his principles.”

For some, the assassination attempt encouraged them to attend the rally.

Grand Rapids resident Elijah William said the attempt on Trump’s life made him feel like he needed to support the former president.

“It’s a very, very powerful moment. I feel like I would not have come here if it was not for that happening,” William said. “I’m here to support what’s supposed to be right.”

William said he voted for President Joe Biden in 2020, for which he said he is “ashamed.” He said he plans to vote for Trump in November because of Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“How we handled the situation pulling the troops out, I did not like that situation. I’m not military, but my whole family’s military. My father was a Green Beret in the Army,” William said. “Both my parents have battles every single day with their mental health, with personal health, things that they’ve done, and sacrifices for the country. Veterans aren’t getting treated right.”

Trump addressed the Afghanistan withdrawal in his remarks, calling it the “most embarrassing disaster.” 

Julie DeJonge said Trump’s return to the campaign trail after the assassination attempt gave her “hope” for her children and future grandchildren.

“Why am I here? Come on, this is like history,” DeJonge said.

Grand Blanc, Michigan, resident Scott Miller said it was “unbelievable” and a “blessing” to see Trump campaigning again.

“This is going to be a landslide victory in my opinion. He’s going to take the state of Michigan without a shadow of a doubt,” Miller said. “It doesn’t matter who they put. You could put Biden, you could put our governor — and I use air quotes — [Gretchen] Whitmer, you could put the ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ cutout.”

Biden announced Sunday he is withdrawing from the presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination. 

Trump anticipated Democrats would make a move like this to circumvent the primary process.

“They have no idea who their candidate is,” Trump said. “This guy goes and gets the votes, and now they want to take it away. That’s ‘democracy.’ They talk about ‘democracy.’ ‘Let’s take it away from him.’”

Same Trump, New Dynamics

Trump, still wearing a bandage on his ear from the attempt on his life, had the same energy and humor. But this time, he carried himself more soberly and spoke with more weight. 

“As I said earlier this week, I stand before you only by the grace of Almighty God. I shouldn’t be here,” Trump said. “Something very special happened, let’s face it. Something happened.”

Trump brought up faith several times during the rally. He mentioned the feeling of undeniable belief from when he was a child, and his father would bring him to Billy Graham services in Yankee Stadium.

“The place was packed. He would get up there and he would rant and rave, and you left there,” Trump said. “And you believe that it was God, in fact, that helped me last week.”

Running Mates

This was the first time Trump hosted a rally with his choice for vice president, Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio. They made a strong duo.

When Vance walked on stage to “America First” by Merle Haggard, the crowd erupted in applause. Vance said Trump fits the most basic requirement for president, loving America. Chants of “J.D., J.D., J.D.” broke out.

Vance introduced Trump, and the two embraced when Trump walked on stage to “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood.

Logan Washburn is a staff writer covering election integrity. He graduated from Hillsdale College, served as Christopher Rufo’s editorial assistant, and has bylines in The Wall Street Journal, The Tennessean, and The Daily Caller. Logan is originally from Central Oregon but now lives in rural Michigan.