Usually, former President Donald Trump makes the headlines for what he says at one of his trademark raucous rallies.
This time, it was the silence that spoke volumes.
In a brief clip posted to Rumble on Saturday, Trump is shown speaking of the United States, calling it “the greatest nation in the history of the world.”
Then follow 40 seconds of silence as a string of emotions pass across Trump’s face and his supporters cheer.
When Trump spoke again, it was to reveal his summary of President Joe Biden’s America: “We are a nation in decline.”
“We are a failing nation, we are a nation that has the highest inflation in 50 years,” Trump said at the rally in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Many remarked about that section of Trump’s speech.
“The fact is we are probably heading into a Great Depression,” Trump said, according to Reuters. “The only question is whether or not it will be during the remaining months of the Biden administration. If it’s going to happen, let it happen then.”
During his comments, Trump said if elected he would “immediately commence the largest deportation operation in American history,” according to the Rapid City Journal.
”I’m the only candidate who can make this promise — I will prevent World War III,” he said. “If you have World War III, it will be a nuclear war … This would be levels of destruction that nobody’s ever contemplated or thought of.”
During the event, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem endorsed Trump. Noem has been mentioned as a possible selection as Trump’s running mate, according to Reuters.