Trump returns to rally stage in Ohio, urges votes for Republicans

Former US president hints at 2024 plans, urges supporters to help Republicans take back Congress in next year’s mid-term elections.

Donald Trump has held his first campaign-style rally since leaving the White House, repeating his election grievances and baseless claims of fraud as he urged his supporters to help Republicans win back majorities in the Congress. Saturday’s rally in Ohio – a state the former president carried in the 2020 election – marks a return to the kind of freewheeling mass gatherings that have been critical to retaining the support of Trump’s base. It was held to support Max Miller, a former White House aide who is challenging Republican Representative Anthony Gonzalez for his congressional seat. Gonzalez was one of 10 Republican House members who voted to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol in the wake of his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.