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Trump to Speak in Michigan at First Rally Since Mueller Report ‘The Russian Hoax Is Finally Dead,’ Trump Tells Michigan Rally
(about 1 hour later)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — President Trump, fresh off what he claims was vindication in the special counsel’s Russia investigation, will offer a first glimpse on Thursday night of how he plans to use the findings to demonize his enemies and galvanize his political base. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — President Trump, fresh off what he claims was vindication in the special counsel’s Russia investigation, told supporters here on Thursday that “after three years of lies and smears and slander, the Russia hoax is finally dead.”
In his first rally since the end of the 22-month investigation, Mr. Trump is likely to lash out at a familiar list of targets: Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee; James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director whom he fired in 2017; John O. Brennan, the former C.I.A. director; and, of course, the “fake news media,” which he accuses of propagating the “hoax” of his collusion with Russia. “The collusion delusion is over,” he said. “This was nothing more than a sinister effort to undermine our historic election victory.”
In vilifying his opponents, Mr. Trump has not been troubled by the fact that the 300-plus-page report by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, has yet to be released, or that Attorney General William P. Barr, in his summary of Mr. Mueller’s findings, stipulated that the report did not exonerate the president, even if it did not find him guilty of conspiracy or of obstructing justice. In his first rally since the end of the 22-month investigation, Mr. Trump lashed out at a wide-ranging list of familiar targets: Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, the elites and, of course, the “fake news media,” which he accused of propagating the “hoax” of his collusion with Russia.
In vilifying his opponents, Mr. Trump was not troubled by the fact that the 300-plus-page report by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, has yet to be released, or that Attorney General William P. Barr, in his summary of Mr. Mueller’s findings, stipulated that the report did not exonerate the president, even if it did not find him guilty of conspiracy or of obstructing justice.
“It’s interesting,” Mr. Trump said. “Robert Mueller was a god to the Democrats. He was a god to them until he said ‘no collusion.’ They don’t like him so much now.”
Grand Rapids holds special meaning for Mr. Trump, as the site of his final campaign rally before his upset victory in 2016. He won Michigan by fewer than 11,000 votes — two-tenths of 1 percent — the first Republican to do since 1984. It was one of three Midwestern states — along with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — that cemented his victory over his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.Grand Rapids holds special meaning for Mr. Trump, as the site of his final campaign rally before his upset victory in 2016. He won Michigan by fewer than 11,000 votes — two-tenths of 1 percent — the first Republican to do since 1984. It was one of three Midwestern states — along with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — that cemented his victory over his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.
Grand Rapids is also the birthplace of another president, Gerald R. Ford, whose presidential museum sits across the river from the arena where Mr. Trump is to speak — a monument to the moderate Republicanism that the president has banished and the Washington establishment that he has upended. Grand Rapids was also the hometown of another president, Gerald R. Ford, whose presidential museum sits across the river from the arena where Mr. Trump is to speak — a monument to the moderate Republicanism that the president has banished and the Washington establishment that he has upended.
The timing of the rally so soon after Mr. Barr’s disclosures has prompted greater-than-usual concerns about security, given Mr. Trump’s habit of stirring up the crowd and heaping abuse on reporters. At his last rally in El Paso, a member of the audience assaulted a BBC cameraman.The timing of the rally so soon after Mr. Barr’s disclosures has prompted greater-than-usual concerns about security, given Mr. Trump’s habit of stirring up the crowd and heaping abuse on reporters. At his last rally in El Paso, a member of the audience assaulted a BBC cameraman.
The signs of tighter security in Grand Rapids included more visible security personnel and sturdier barriers between the press and the audience. In El Paso, reporters were seated in the stands, unprotected from the crowd.The signs of tighter security in Grand Rapids included more visible security personnel and sturdier barriers between the press and the audience. In El Paso, reporters were seated in the stands, unprotected from the crowd.
On Sunday evening, after Mr. Barr delivered his summary of the Mueller report, Mr. Trump, who was in Palm Beach, Fla., was urged by his aides to avoid a tone of triumphalism in his reaction. That lasted for about an hour, until he delivered an angry denunciation of those behind the investigation before he returned to Washington.On Sunday evening, after Mr. Barr delivered his summary of the Mueller report, Mr. Trump, who was in Palm Beach, Fla., was urged by his aides to avoid a tone of triumphalism in his reaction. That lasted for about an hour, until he delivered an angry denunciation of those behind the investigation before he returned to Washington.
As the days wore on, Mr. Trump vilified news organizations, ridiculed the ratings of cable networks like MSNBC and CNN, and demanded the resignation of Democrats like Mr. Schiff, whom he accused of lying repeatedly in discussing potential collusion between Mr. Trump and the Russians.As the days wore on, Mr. Trump vilified news organizations, ridiculed the ratings of cable networks like MSNBC and CNN, and demanded the resignation of Democrats like Mr. Schiff, whom he accused of lying repeatedly in discussing potential collusion between Mr. Trump and the Russians.
In a warm-up rally more than an hour before Mr. Trump arrived, Laura Cox, the chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, led the crowd in chants of “No Collusion! No Obstruction!” The crowd also chanted “Lock her up!” after Ms. Cox denounced Mrs. Clinton for counting Harvey Weinstein as one of her supporters.In a warm-up rally more than an hour before Mr. Trump arrived, Laura Cox, the chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, led the crowd in chants of “No Collusion! No Obstruction!” The crowd also chanted “Lock her up!” after Ms. Cox denounced Mrs. Clinton for counting Harvey Weinstein as one of her supporters.
On the flight to Grand Rapids, Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie, two former campaign advisers known for riling up Mr. Trump on Air Force One before his rallies, were aboard.
Inside the White House, aides were concerned about the two of them tagging along — and possibly having open access to the president — but ultimately did not take steps to limit their travel, according to a person familiar with the planning.
Mr. Trump has long savored his victory in Michigan. But the state could be more of an uphill struggle in 2020. Democrats made significant gains in the 2018 midterm elections, including winning the governorship.Mr. Trump has long savored his victory in Michigan. But the state could be more of an uphill struggle in 2020. Democrats made significant gains in the 2018 midterm elections, including winning the governorship.
General Motors, one of Michigan’s key employers, has laid off workers, despite Mr. Trump’s efforts to pressure the carmaker to expand manufacturing in the United States. He also face headwinds in winning congressional passage of the retooled version of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he has promoted as benefiting workers in Michigan.General Motors, one of Michigan’s key employers, has laid off workers, despite Mr. Trump’s efforts to pressure the carmaker to expand manufacturing in the United States. He also face headwinds in winning congressional passage of the retooled version of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he has promoted as benefiting workers in Michigan.
Inside the arena, however, Mr. Trump’s supporters basked in the glow of the president’s claims of vindication and expressed indignation on his behalf at the multiple investigations into him and his administration.
“He went through so much persecution,” said Brenda Freye, a medical assistant from nearby Muskegon, who recalled attending his campaign rally in November 2016. “They were so unfair to him.”