Trump Holds First Public Event Since Return from Hospital

President Donald Trump appeared Saturday in his first public event since his return from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Trump appeared to feel great and like his old self as he addressed supporters at the White House.

The Saturday gathering was also Trump's first public event since his COVID-19 diagnosis. A BBC report noted that the event was officially a "peaceful protest for law and order" but critics said it was much like a campaign rally.

As many cast doubt as to whether he's still contagious, the president chose to hold his first public event away from the hospital from a safe distance. He stood alone from a White House balcony, not wearing a mask.

There were hundreds of people gathered in the South Lawn where Trump delivered his 18-minute scripted address, said a report from The Guardian.

Trump urged them to vote in the November 3 presidential election. According to Reuters, the crowd that gathered there were largely Black and Latino supporters of the president.

He was given the go signal to do public engagements on Thursday.

No More Medication

While White House staff has not yet provided further details on the Trump's health since Thursday, he said he is no longer taking medicines against COVID-19.

Trump did not seem to show any lingering signs of the coronavirus when he was delivering his speech. But that did not stop swirling questions about his health since his doctors refuse to reveal when he last tested negative of the virus.

The president stayed at Walter Reed for only three days, where he received a variety of medications.

His doctors repeatedly said the president is in no immediate danger but is not yet out of the woods.

What Did Trump Say?

The past week has been a rough one for the Trump campaign. The president's diagnosis pushed the gap between him and Democratic challenger Joe Biden further, with the election a few weeks away.

As Trump stayed at the hospital, it was clear he wanted to jump back into the campaign and woo more supporters.

The event, partly organized by a foundation named "Blexit", was part of that effort. Gaining support for the Republican Party from Latino and Black voters was a clear goal for the event.

The speech was wide-ranging. It touched on topics like scrapping the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), criminal justice reform and the state of the economy.

He claimed his administration saw the "fastest economic recovery in history."

Trump also explored ways to attack the Democrats for an agenda he said was "beyond socialism."

"We're starting very, very big with our rallies and with our everything because we cannot allow our country to become a socialist nation," he said.

He also touched on key talking points like the border wall and postal voting for the coming elections.

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over 200,000 lives, the president believes the battle against it is being won. Shortly after his speech, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 58,000 deaths in the past 24 hours.

Recent poll shows that Trump is making inroads with Hispanic and Black voters recently.

Check these out!

Trump Believes Contracting COVID-19 was a 'Blessing in Disguise,' Optimistic About Treatment

Trump Can Return to Public Engagements by Weekend, White House Doctor Says

Trump Leaves Hospital to Receive COVID-19 Treatment at White House