Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on a panel of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. July 31, 2024. REUTERS/Vincent AlbanSource: REUTERS
Former U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail in Michigan, boasting about surviving a second apparent assassination attempt in three months.
Speaking to his supporters, Trump linked the attempts on his life to his impact as a political figure, stating, "Only consequential presidents get shot at."
During the campaign event, Trump drew a connection between what the FBI called a foiled assassination bid against him at his Florida golf course on Sunday and his pledge to impose heavy tariffs on car imports from Mexico and China. "I'm putting a 200% tariff on [them], which means they're unsellable in the United States. Then you wonder why I get shot at, right?", the AFP reports.
He emphasised the importance of being bold in leadership, adding, "You have to be brave, otherwise, you're not going to have a country left." Trump also told his supporters about the dangers of being president, comparing it to other high-risk professions saying “Well, it's been a great experience. It's a dangerous business, however, being president. It's a little bit dangerous. You know, they think race car driving is dangerous? No. They think bullriding, that's pretty scary, right? No. This is a dangerous business, so we have to keep it safe."
He further revealed that both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had reached out to him following the recent incident. "It was very nice of them. We had a nice conversation, and I appreciated it."
Trump praised the Secret Service, recounting how agents detected an AK-47 rifle, describing it as "serious stuff." He expressed gratitude for their quick action.