Former President Donald Trump will be joined by his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, for the 2024 GOP nominee’s first rally since he was nearly assassinated in Butler, Pa., last week.
According to Fox News, thousands lined streets in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Saturday to catch a glimpse of the GOP ticket ahead of an event there later in the evening.
“Fight! Fight! Fight!” a number of supporters in the pivotal state started to yell as Fox News Digital inquired if there was any indication of anxiety following the incident at the rally last week, where a 20-year-old shooter took the life of a single attendee, severely injured two others, and nearly killed the former president, who’s right ear was grazed by a bullet.
🚨BREAKING: THE LINE FOR RIGHTFUL PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RALLY IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN IS LITERALLY MILES LONG!
This video was taken over TEN HOURS before Trump's speech at 5PM EST.
Will this be Trump's BIGGEST RALLY YET?
Share to make this go viral! pic.twitter.com/VOLQEDdBHF
— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) July 20, 2024
“West Michigan is fired up, and they are ready for a change in Washington,” Michael Markey, the Republican candidate for Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, told Fox as he greeted rallygoers waiting in the growing line to enter Van Andel Arena.
“Just one week ago, West Michigan stood in prayer for President Trump, the victims of the attack in Pennsylvania and our nation. Today, we are enthusiastically standing in line to see President Trump and show him we are are ready to fight, fight, fight,” Markey said.
Several attendees told journalists that they spent the evening outdoors near the venue, while a few mentioned arriving almost 12 hours prior in order to secure a place in the line.
The venue can hold up to 12,000 people.
The line for Donald Trump’s rally with JD Vance later today in Michigan 🔥
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 20, 2024
“The rally is being held as the Secret Service continues to face questions about the assassination attempt and how the shooter was able to climb on top of a building unhindered with a direct line of sight to Trump as he spoke,” Fox News reported. “The agency reportedly requested additional support from local law enforcement to beef up security at the event in Grand Rapids.”
