United States: Former US President Donald Trump has held the first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign in Waco, Texas. During the rally, Mr. Trump railed against prosecutors investigating him and accused them of employing “dark and conspiratorial language” to fire up his base ahead of next year’s Republican primary elections.
The former President opened the rally by playing a song, “Justice for All,” that features a choir of men imprisoned for their role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States Capitol singing the national anthem and a recording of Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
During his speech, Mr. Trump defended the insurrectionists, saying they would be “vindicated,” and described the investigations swirling around him as “something straight out of the Stalinist Russia horror show.”
“From the beginning, it’s been one witch hunt and phony investigation after another,” the Republican leader added.
Mr. Trump further declared that his “enemies are desperate to stop us,” and “our opponents have done everything they can to crush our spirit and break our will.”
“But they failed. They have only made us stronger. And 2024 is the final battle, it’s going to be the big one. You put me back in the White House, their reign will be over, and America will be a free nation once again,” the former President continued.
Mr. Trump is being investigated by prosecutors in Manhattan for campaign finance violations arising from his alleged payment of hush money to an adult film actress ahead of the 2016 election. A special counsel appointed by the Department of Justice is also investigating allegations that he hoarded top-secret documents and led a plot to overturn the 2020 election.