Thinking the Unthinkable: Could Trump Lose?

Thousands of supporters waited for hours on a hot summer day in Grand Rapids for Donald Trump's first rally since a gunman shot him in the ear in an attempted assassination, undeterred by safety concerns. When Trump took the stage, escorted by Secret Service agents, he framed the shooting as an act of sacrifice, addressing the crowd's concerns about democracy. "Last week, I took a bullet for democracy," he said. "What did I do against democracy?"

Many attendees at Saturday's event in the battleground state of Michigan told the BBC that the assassination attempt, which also killed an audience member and wounded two others, only strengthened their resolve to support the Republican presidential nominee. Some even cited the shooting as their reason for attending.

Trump was scheduled to speak at 17:00 EST (22:00 BST), but people began lining up the night before. By 13:00 EST, a line stretched for about three miles (4.8km) outside the 12,000-person Van Andel Arena. Unlike last week's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the Grand Rapids event was held indoors, allowing security officers to carefully monitor attendees and mitigate external threats.

In his speech, Trump thanked the “thousands and thousands” of people who came to see him just a week after the Pennsylvania assassination attempt. “I stand before you only by the grace of almighty God,” he said, expressing his belief that divine intervention saved his life.

Wendy and Steve Upcott of Clarkston, Michigan, were among the thousands who traveled from across the state, reassured by the heightened security. Despite their 26-year-old daughter's pleas for them to stay home, they felt compelled to attend after the shooting. “The chances of it happening again just one week later are unlikely,” said Ms. Upcott.

The crowd in Grand Rapids donned red Make America Great Again caps, cowboy hats, American flag-themed attire, and T-shirts with Trump's mug shot. Laura Schultz, who attended with a friend, admitted she considered her safety before deciding to come. “You can’t let fear stop you,” she said.

Other attendees, including several young adults, were motivated by the assassination attempt to show their support. Donald, a 24-year-old from Grand Rapids, attended his first Trump campaign event wearing a shirt with the viral image of Trump pumping his fist after being shot. “This is the first event after the attempted assassination. I think it’s probably going to be the most important rally,” he said, expressing confidence in the security measures, including the presence of hundreds of police officers, some on horseback.

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