Former US president Donald Trump has used his first election rally in Waco, Texas, to rail against the prosecutors investigating him, employing dark and conspiratorial language to fire up his base ahead of next year's Republican primary elections.
Mr Trump told supporters gathered at Waco's airport on Saturday that the investigations swirling around him were "something straight out of the Stalinist Russia horror show".
"From the beginning it's been one witch hunt and phoney investigation after another," he said.
The legal threats hanging over the former president were front of mind for some attendees, many of whom flashed signs saying "WITCH HUNT".
Mr Trump is facing allegations he violated campaign finance laws for paying hush money to an adult film actress ahead of the 2016 election — an investigation being led by prosecutors in Manhattan.
A special counsel appointed by the Department of Justice is investigating allegations he hoarded top-secret documents and masterminded a plot seeking to overturn the 2020 election, culminating in an attack on US Capitol by a mob of his supporters on January 6.
In an extraordinary display, Mr Trump opened his rally by playing a song, Justice for All, which features a choir of men imprisoned for their role in the US Capitol insurrection singing the national anthem and a recording of Mr Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Some of Mr Trump's recent rhetoric, including at the rally, echoed language he used before the Capitol riot, which sought to stop the transfer of power to Democrat Joe Biden, who won the presidential election.
Some footage from the insurrection was shown on screens.
In a speech brimming with resentments, Mr Trump defended the insurrectionists and berated prosecutors overseeing multiple investigations into his actions.
He framed the probes as political attacks on him and his followers.
"You will be vindicated and proud," Mr Trump said.
"The thugs and criminals who are corrupting our justice system will be defeated, discredited and totally disgraced."
Mr Trump repeatedly railed against the investigations on Saturday, declaring "prosecutorial misconduct" in the ongoing criminal investigations but also decrying past probes, including the release of his tax returns by Democrats in the US House after a prolonged legal battle.
"It probably makes me the most innocent man in the history of our country." Mr Trump said. "Friends of mine say that."
The former president said he has had "bad publicity," but his "poll numbers have gone through the roof".
Waco marks 30th anniversary of siege
Mr Trump's eyebrow-raising choice of venue in Waco comes as the city commemorates the 30th anniversary of a 51-day stand-off and deadly siege between US law enforcement and David Koresh's Branch Davidians, which resulted in the deaths of more than 80 members of the religious cult and four federal agents.
It has become a touchstone for far-right extremists and militia groups.
Mr Trump's campaign insisted the location and timing of the event had nothing to do with the Waco siege or anniversary.
Mr Trump did not make any overt references to Waco's history, telling the crowd he wanted to hold his rally in a place with overwhelming support, not "one of those 50-50 areas".
"But as far as the eye can see," he immediately added, "the abuses of power that we're currently witnessing at all levels of government will go down as among the most shameful, corrupt, depraved chapters in all of American history".
Mr Trump declared his "enemies are desperate to stop us," and "our opponents have done everything they can to crush our spirit and to break our will".
"But they failed. They've only made us stronger. And 2024 is the final battle, it's going to be the big one," he said.
"You put me back in the White House, their reign will be over and America will be a free nation once again."
Trump loyalists unfazed by allegations
Hours before Mr Trump arrived, hundreds of his supporters began streaming into the airport past vendors selling merchandise including Trump flags, bumper stickers and action figures.
There were no signs of counter-protesters near the long line of Trump supporters waiting to get inside.
Among them was Eugene Torres, 41, who said he was unfazed by the prospect that Mr Trump could be indicted.
"It's just another political attack on him to keep him from running and winning this race again," Mr Torres said.
Republican politician Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of Mr Trump's most vocal supporters in Congress, told the crowd it was time to "take back" the Department of Justice.
"You have to understand: they are not just coming after president Trump, they are coming after you, and president Trump is just the only one standing in their way," she said.
Matt Schomburg, 45, said he believed the rally was important to energise Mr Trump's supporters for the 2024 race.
"We are so divided as a country and Trump did so many good things for the economy, the border, we'd just love to have his leadership again," he said.
Mr Schomburg said he thought Mr Trump was trying to send a message by holding the rally in Waco.
"I think the message is hey we are not going to be handcuffed by the people that are pulling the strings behind the curtain. We want transparency. We don't want big government anymore."
ABC/wires
