– I've gotten a little dirty.

– Three days ago there was another assassination attempt on me by a left-wing extremist gangster. Luckily, the Secret Service spotted him in the bushes, that bastard.

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, 78, stands on stage at a crowded hockey arena in Uniondale, Long Island, outside New York City.

It was the first time such a large crowd — at least 16,000 people — had gathered since shots were fired near where Trump was playing golf in Florida on Sunday. According to the FBI, Trump was the target.

In July, Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

– I'm not the threat.

Trump was quick to blame Kamala Harris and Democrats for the golf course incident, claiming that his opponent's rhetoric had sparked the action.

During a campaign rally on Long Island on Thursday night, Norwegian time, in what the Trump campaign called an “urgent announcement” to the nation, he said the following:

– It's time to stop lying and making false claims against me and claiming that the United States has become a dictatorship. The truth is, I am not a threat to democracy. They are!

Supporters in the stands loudly chant Trump's words.

Many wear red. stomachMake America Great Again – Trump's Slogan.Hats and T-shirts bearing the image of Trump shot in the ear and the words “killer, killer, killer” were lined up for hours to get a seat. The more cautious camped out all night.

Outside, there are snipers and scouts on the roof, and police officers on foot, in helicopters and on horseback. Security has been increased during Trump events.

Here's what we know about the suspect: Ready to die for Ukraine

“God saved my life not once, but twice. Many people say it’s because I’m going to make America good again,” Trump says from the stage.

Unexpected guest on stage

Suddenly, during Trump's hour-and-a-half speech, a man dressed in black and a hat appeared on stage right next to Trump.

More than a dozen men in Secret Service suits, with earplugs in their ears and stares focused in all directions of the square, passed by.

Trump twists and turns toward the man. He quickly turns his elbow toward him, ready to defend himself.

Then he discovers the camera, and realizes that one of his people is going to take a close-up picture.

– Oh, I got a little dirty. I was ready to go to war here. This is the first time something like this has ever happened to me, Trump says.

“Is it new? I think so,” he says of the photographer, before moving on to talk about tax relief, border “invasion,” the fentanyl crisis and inflation — his political pet peeve on the campaign trail.

Watch Trump's joke about the episode right after (click on the audio icon):

Here is a secret

Many of the Trump supporters VG spoke to at the campaign rally expressed concern about the threats against Trump.

“There has been more political violence in recent years because of Joe Biden. It’s not Biden’s direct fault that people are trying to kill Trump, but people listen to him and don’t want to understand the other side,” says Grace Berger, 21.

She's in the yard with two friends. She says her mom doesn't know she's there.

– My mom didn't want me to go here, because of the assassination attempts.

– Do you find it uncomfortable to be here?

– Yes, the threats against Trump make me a little nervous.

– Doesn't work on our Trump.

Lily Tish, 43, came to the rally alone because her friend didn't dare join her after the Florida shooting.

“It’s very scary and sad. They keep hounding him and trying to get him out of work. But it’s not working on our Trump. He keeps getting up and going, and that keeps us fighting him,” Tish says.

Sarah Brady, 44, wore a festive dress with the colors of the United States and a picture of Trump on it. She opted for sneakers this evening for safety reasons.

– Be on the safe side. “So I can run if I have to,” she explains.

Bruce Einbinder, 70, is clear about who he believes is responsible for the attacks:

– Democrats are the ones who encourage this. They are responsible for the rhetoric they spread.

Expert: – All warning lights flashing.

Gina Ligon is an expert on political extremism and violence, and the president of NCITE (National Center for Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education) in Nebraska.

VG asked her what she thought about the current political threat picture in the USA.

– All warning lights are flashing red for assassination attempts on our presidential candidates, but also public officials at the state and local levels.

The center monitors threats of violence against elected officials, and Legion says they've never seen such a high level before.

More than 100 people have been charged with threatening violence against elected officials in the United States so far this year.

– How strange is it that a presidential candidate is being attacked in this way?

“We haven’t seen that since Bobby Kennedy was assassinated when he ran for president in 1968. In other countries, assassinations are more common as a means of resolving political grievances,” Lejeune answers.

Have you read? VG met his son Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

– Trump blames Democrats, Harris points to Trump's campaign as escalating political tensions. What's the truth here?

“Every time you see politicians using derogatory language and presenting the presidential election as a ‘life-or-death choice,’ they risk inspiring people to act violently,” Legon responds.

Read more reports from VG's US office:

Advice for me

journalist

USA correspondent based in New York. Has worked at VG since 2013. BA in Journalism from the University of Oslo and MA in International Relations from Bogazici University in Istanbul. Former Middle East correspondent for VG. Send tips to: [email protected]