Trump touts relationship with Xi, pledges stronger run for presidency
Former US President Donald Trump declared on Saturday at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that during his tenure he "got along very well" with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He added that the Chinese leader "wrote him a beautiful note" after an assassination attempt on his life on 13 July.
"(Xi) wrote me a beautiful note the other day when he heard about what happened," said Trump to the gathered crowd of his supporters during his first rally after 13 July, when he was nearly the victim of an assassin.
Trump mentioned the letter from the Chinese leader when discussing his economic policy towards China during his presidency. "I got along very well with President Xi," he added.
At his first rally after the assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump also declared that he "took a bullet for democracy".
Trump officially became a candidate
Last Thursday, Trump officially became the Republican Party's presidential candidate at its national convention in Milwaukee.
During the rally in Michigan, one of the key "swing" states that will largely decide the outcome of the elections on 5 November, Trump also appeared for the first time with his vice-presidential candidate, Senator J.D. Vance.
"I stand before you only by the grace of almighty God," said Trump.
In the 2016 elections, Trump won Michigan with just over 10,000 votes, but Democratic candidate Joe Biden won this state again in 2020 with 154,000 votes.
