President Trump held a rally Thursday in Freeland, Michigan, a state he won in 2016 and one his campaign considers a must win in 2020. Mr. Trump used the rally to attack his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, calling this election "the most important election in the history of our country,"
The president once again held his rally at an airport hanger, an outdoor alternative to his indoor rallies that have been made nearly impossible by the pandemic. The president and his allies have begun calling his rallies "peaceful protests" as a way to skirt rules limiting gatherings due to COVID-19.
"This is not a crowd of a person who comes in second place," the president told his supportive crowd.
He kicked off the rally insisting Biden will outsource American jobs and surrender America's future to China. Mr. Trump attacked Biden's record on the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Biden voted for in 1993.
President Trump addresses supporters during a campaign rally at MBS International Airport in Freeland, Michigan on Thursday, September 10, 2020.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
"Yesterday Biden was in Michigan, he said I better get out of the basement," Mr. Trump said. "This guy's starting to do very well. Lying about his lifetime of cold-hearted globalist betrayal. Biden championed NAFTA perhaps the worst trade deal in the history of our country and he continued to embrace and promote NAFTA for decades and I told you he just said it was not as good as the deal I made. I can't believe, oh they're giving him hell tonight. They're giving him hell. What did you say that for? Hiden. Joe Hiden."
The president called Biden the "worst presidential candidate in the history of presidential politics."
"Can you imagine if I lost to him? I'd have to say I lost to the worst candidate ever put up. Don't do that to me Michigan. Don't do that," he pleaded with the crowd.
The latest CBS News Battleground Tracker poll shows Joe Biden leading Mr. Trump 53%-45% in Michigan.
On Thursday, the president continues to battle the fallout from his interviews with Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward. According to excerpts from Woodward's book that were released early, Mr. Trump told Woodward he intended to downplay the virus to avoid working people into a panic.
On Thursday, the president referred to Woodward as "this whack job that wrote the book." Mr. Trump also continued to hold rallies for a month after he knew about how fast the coronavirus could spread.
In the recorded interview, Mr. Trump acknowledged that COVID-19 "goes through air" despite continuing to speak at packed events.
"It's also more deadly than your, you know, even your strenuous flus," the president can be heard saying. "This is 5% versus 1% and less than 1%, you know, so this is deadly stuff."