Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening addressed a second apparent assassination attempt on his life and said that “only consequential presidents get shot at.”
Trump made the comment while he participated in a town hall event in Flint, Michigan, marking his first public appearance since the potential assassination attempt was thwarted.
The 45th president spoke at Flint’s Dort Financial Center just two days after a gunman allegedly targeted Trump while he played golf in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump was evacuated from the golf course and was safe and unharmed.
The suspect, Ryan Routh, 58, was taken into custody and charged with firearms offenses.
“It’s a dangerous business, being president,” Trump told supporters.
He also revealed that a woman spotted the suspect running from the scene and driving away. She followed him, parked behind his car, took pictures of his license plate, and then sent them to law enforcement, according to Trump.
“She was amazing,” Trump said, adding that he hopes to meet her soon.
The town hall was moderated by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as his White House press secretary.
“You took a bullet for our country,” Sanders said. “The reason you’re going to win in November is because America needs a fighter.”
Trump also answered questions from audience members about the border, the economy, and taxes.
The Auto Industry
Trump acknowledged the state as once being the center of the automobile industry.
“You used to be the capital of the world in cars,” Trump said. “Today, you’re the afterthought in cars,” Trump said.
The former president also pledged to “bring so many auto plants to our country” when he is reelected.
The single biggest threat to the automobile industry is losing jobs to other countries such as Mexico and China, according to Trump. He said that taxation and tariffs will solve that issue, specifically a reciprocal trade tax.
“If they charge us, we charge them,” Trump said when discussing the plan. He said Michigan would benefit the most from his proposal.
Battleground
Swing states such as Michigan could play a big factor in the race. The battleground state is being closely watched in the 2024 presidential election along with Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, also rallied supporters in Michigan earlier in the day. Vance held a campaign event in Kent County ahead of Trump’s town hall in Flint.
Meanwhile, Harris is set to host a “Unite for America” livestream event from Michigan on Thursday with television mogul Oprah Winfrey.
Trump confirmed that his Democratic rival called him after the assassination attempt.
“She couldn’t have been nicer,” Trump said of Harris.
Nationally, Harris leads Trump at 48.1 percent to 45.3 percent, according to polling website FiveThirtyEight.