Just when you thought the campaign-style excitement might be over, President Donald Trump is heading back to the stage — not as a candidate, but as a sitting president.
His first major rally since the start of his second term is set for next Tuesday in Macomb County, Michigan, marking the eve of his first 100 days in office.
This announcement comes on the heels of a packed weekend, as Trump plans to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome before making his return to Michigan.
Rallying in Macomb County
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the news Wednesday night in a post on X, writing: “President Trump is excited to return to the great state of Michigan next Tuesday, where he will rally in Macomb County to celebrate the FIRST 100 DAYS!”
The location is no accident. Macomb County has become something of a political bellwether over the past few elections.
Once a stronghold for President Obama, it swung to Trump in 2016 and has stayed loyal ever since.
This suburban and rural area northeast of Detroit holds significant political weight in Michigan, one of the former “blue wall” states that Trump famously flipped in his first run for the presidency.
A Swing State Sweep
In 2020, Joe Biden managed to claw back Michigan — along with other critical battlegrounds like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Arizona.
But 2024 painted a very different picture.
Trump not only regained those states, but also flipped Nevada and retained North Carolina, achieving a clean sweep of the seven major swing states against Vice President Kamala Harris.
A Nostalgic Venue
Trump has a bit of a tradition with Michigan.
His last campaign rally before the 2024 election also took place in the state — specifically in Grand Rapids.
It’s a spot he’s returned to again and again, having also ended his 2016 and 2020 campaigns there.
During that final rally, he reflected sentimentally on the campaign trail, calling it “an incredible journey” and expressing a sense of sadness at what he thought might be his final appearance as a candidate.
Of course, politics has a way of keeping things unpredictable.
Travel Patterns in Office
Since beginning his second term in January, Trump hasn’t exactly been jet-setting around the country like his predecessor Joe Biden.
While Biden often took short domestic trips, Trump has mostly stuck to Mar-a-Lago on weekends, with a few notable exceptions.
He did make visits to North Carolina and California to survey damage from Hurricane Helene and the wildfires, respectively.
He’s also made appearances at high-profile sporting events like the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500.
Change in Travel Plans
Trump’s first overseas trip of the term was initially supposed to be to the Middle East — just as it was back in 2017.
But after Pope Francis passed away on Monday, plans shifted. Trump will now attend the Pope’s funeral before heading to Michigan.
That Middle Eastern trip is still on the schedule, though — with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from May 13 to 16.
The Rally Isn’t Going Anywhere
Even though he’s no longer running for office (for now), Trump has shown no signs of giving up the energy and excitement of his signature rallies.
In fact, they may be more carefully planned than ever.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran recently mentioned in an interview that agents are now training specifically for large-scale events involving the president — something that wasn’t typical protocol until Trump came on the scene.
“We are training our agents and officers to be prepared for those large-scale events that have become new to us and so often,” Curran explained.
This comes after the near-assassination attempt at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last July.
Despite that harrowing experience, Trump was back on stage for more rallies leading up to Election Day.
What’s Next?
As Trump marks his first 100 days with a signature rally in a key swing district, many are watching closely to see what this signals for the rest of his term.
Will these rallies become a regular feature of his presidency once again?
And how will his continued presence in battleground states shape the political landscape moving forward?
Stay tuned — because with Trump, the show is never really over.