Donald Trump, appearing behind bulletproof glass, took the stage in Asheboro, North Carolina, marking his first outdoor event since being injured in a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last month.
Following the shooting, which resulted in Trump sustaining a bloodied ear, two rallygoers injured, and one man killed, the Secret Service temporarily recommended that the former president hold only indoor rallies. Last week, the Secret Service announced it would use bulletproof glass to protect him at outdoor events. The North Carolina rally was part of the campaign’s counter-programming to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, featuring various Democratic politicians and celebrity appearances.
The event began with brief remarks from JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, who had less than a minute on stage. Trump then invited a group of sheriffs and North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson to the stage, noting Robinson’s significant weight loss over recent months.
After the quick appearances, Trump launched into a speech focused on national security, touching on familiar Maga talking points about NATO, Afghanistan, and Russia, while also attacking his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. He repeatedly referred to Harris as “Comrade Kamala,” reinforcing his portrayal of her as a far-left candidate, and promised that under a second Trump presidency, the country would experience economic prosperity.
Trump reiterated his false claim that NATO countries have not paid “their dues,” a misrepresentation of the alliance’s defense spending targets. This assertion has drawn significant criticism, with Trump acknowledging the backlash from the press for his comments.
He also claimed, without substantiation, that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would not have occurred if he had been in office instead of Biden. Trump cited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as a supporter of this view, stating that Orbán believes Trump’s return to the presidency is crucial for global stability.
During his speech, Trump couldn’t resist bringing up his unfounded allegations of election fraud, accusing the Democratic Party of being adept at cheating in elections. He also criticized the 2022 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, vowing to “fire” the military personnel responsible and vividly describing the injuries sustained by American soldiers.
Despite efforts by his campaign to keep him focused on policy issues, Trump was clearly rattled by Barack Obama’s criticism at the Democratic convention. He repeatedly mentioned Obama’s remarks, describing them as “nasty,” and, rather than directly responding, veered off into a discussion about whether Hillary Clinton should be imprisoned.
