Donald Trump has called the multiple probes into his behaviour “a horror show straight out of Stalinist Russia.”
Mr Trump was speaking at his first election rally in Waco, Texas, on Saturday as he campaigned for the GOP presidential nomination.
He is facing a slew of legal charges, including claims of campaign financing crimes and mishandling top-secret documents.
“From the beginning, it’s been one witch-hunt and false probe after another,” he added.
Mr. Trump’s trip to Waco comes 30 years after federal investigators raided the Branch Davidians religious group.
That day, 86 individuals were killed, including four law enforcement personnel.
According to a Trump campaign spokeswoman, Waco was picked because it is located between multiple major population centres and has the facilities to host a massive gathering.
Nevertheless, others argue that the decision was made to appease Mr Trump’s far-right fans, many of whom regard the raid as an example of government overreach.
Mr Trump’s speech contained many of his usual themes: he blamed immigrants for many of the country’s problems, claimed he could restore the US economy to pre-crisis levels, promised to save his country from “World War Three,” and repeated his false claims that his election loss in 2020 was the result of a Democratic-led fraud.
He had started the demonstration with a song called “Justice For Everyone,” which featured a choir of men imprisoned for their roles in the 6 January 2021 insurgency at the US Capitol singing the national anthem and a tape of himself reciting the Pledge Of Allegiance.
On large screens, footage from the insurgency was also presented.
Mr Trump told the audience that his opponents “are determined to stop us,” and that “our opponents have done everything they can to shatter our spirit and weaken our will.”
“But, they failed,” he added.
“They’ve only strengthened us.”
“And the final struggle is in 2024.”
“This is going to be a big one.”
“If you put me back in the White House, their dominion will end, and America will once again be a free nation.”
The 76-year-old asserted that some American politicians pose a greater threat to the US than China or Russia, and that “demonic forces” are attempting to ruin the US, threatening it with a “lawless abyss.”
“Either America is destroyed by the deep state, or we are destroyed by the deep state,” he declared.
Mr Trump is up against stiff competition for his party’s candidature, including a possible challenge from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
On Saturday, he attempted to downplay his potential opponent’s chances, saying, “I’m not a big fan,” and that “Florida has been very successful for many years, long before this guy [DeSantis] became governor.”
Prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating Mr. Trump for campaign finance crimes stemming from his alleged payment of hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election.
Last week, he threatened “death and devastation” if he was charged in the case.
A special counsel is also looking into allegations that he kept top-secret information and was involved in a scheme to derail the 2020 election.
