Donald Trump appears at first campaign rally since assassination attempt

Donald Trump speaking at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids (Evan Vucci/AP)

Donald Trump has appeared at his first campaign rally since he survived an attempted assassination last week, returning to the battleground state of Michigan alongside his new running mate.

Exactly a week after the July 13 shooting in Pennsylvania that left Mr Trump with a bloodied ear, killed one man in the crowd and left two others injured, he opened by offering a “very special thanks to Americans nationwide, including all of you here today, for your extraordinary outpouring of love and support in the wake of the horrific last Saturday evening”.