I took a bullet for democracy: Trump at first rally since shooting

Donald Trump, holding his first campaign rally Saturday since surviving an assassination attempt, rejected concerns that he is a threat to democracy, triumphantly telling a cheering crowd: "Last week I took a bullet for democracy. ""I'm not an extremist at all," the Republican continued at the rally in swing state Michigan, dismissing his reported links to Project 2025, a shadow manifesto from figures close to him that has been characterized by opponents as an authoritarian, right-wing wish list.And he mocked the rival Democratic Party, roiled by unprecedented pressure for President Joe Biden to abandon his reelection bid amid concerns over his age and fitness to serve, if reelected, until 2029. That's democracy," Trump told the 12,000-strong crowd of passionate supporters.In the fiery but typically rambling speech, the Republican presidential riffed on his hardline immigration views, while espousing falsehoods about migrant crime.He also expressed admiration for foreign autocrats including the "brilliant" Xi Jinping of China, whom he praised for controlling "1.4 billion people with an iron fist. "The crowd in Grand Rapids chanted the word back to him Saturday more than once, though some appeared to tire of the lengthy address after 90 minutes and began filing out of the arena.The rally represented a moment remarkable by any measure, with Trump back on stage exactly one week since the assassination attempt.He appeared wearing a new, smaller, flesh-colored bandage over his right ear, grazed in the attack by a 20-year-old gunman on a rooftop who also killed one bystander.Security was reportedly tight inside the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, amid questions over Secret Service lapses at the Pennsylvania rally -- though there were few visible signs of any greater law enforcement presence.Biden's 'big decision'Meanwhile, Biden loyalists continued to defend the embattled president as the drumbeat of calls for him to abandon his campaign grows louder.The 81-year-old and his team have remained publicly adamant that he is staying in the race, though some reports suggest discussions have begun in his inner circle about how exactly he might step aside.There has been massive speculation over who could replace him.