Former President Donald J. Trump made a fiery return to his characteristic style of personal attacks and election skepticism during a rally in North Carolina on Wednesday. Speaking to a large crowd outside an aviation museum in Asheboro, Mr. Trump mocked Vice President Kamala Harris, criticized President Biden's physical appearance, and labeled several prominent Democrats with derogatory terms.

Despite advisors urging him to focus on policy, Mr. Trump could not resist the urge to engage in personal jabs. He ridiculed President Biden's physical appearance and referred to Speaker Nancy Pelosi as "crazy." However, it was his relentless attacks on Vice President Harris that stood out. He referred to her as "stupid" and alternated between labeling her as a "Marxist or a communist."

Not one to shy away from controversy, Mr. Trump also targeted former President Barack Obama, calling him "nasty." These personal attacks seemed to overshadow the intended focus of the speech, which was national security.

Mr. Trump continued to sow doubts about the integrity of the 2020 election, resurrecting his baseless claims of widespread fraud. He suggested that his victory in November was a forgone conclusion that could only be hampered by electoral cheating. "They cheat," he claimed, referring to Democrats. "That's the one thing - they're great at cheating in elections."

Amid heightened security measures following a recent assassination attempt, Mr. Trump's outdoor rally was his first since the incident. The lectern he spoke from was partially surrounded by bulletproof glass, and snipers were stationed on surrounding rooftops. Large storage containers were strategically placed to obstruct the view of the stage from a distance.

In contrast to his more restrained appearances earlier in the week, Mr. Trump appeared looser and more relaxed during this speech. He engaged with the crowd, seeking their validation for his approach. When he asked whether he should "get personal" or "not get personal," the crowd overwhelmingly favored personal attacks.

Mr. Trump also took aim at the Biden administration's foreign policy, particularly criticizing their handling of Afghanistan and their inability to prevent conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. He accused Vice President Harris and President Biden of bringing the country to the brink of World War III.

The Harris campaign swiftly responded, with spokesman James Singer criticizing Mr. Trump's foreign policy record as president. Singer accused him of bowing down to dictators and leading with ignorant recklessness.

In addition to national security, Mr. Trump highlighted his plans to reshape the government should he win in 2024. He vowed to remove "woke" leadership from the military and demanded the resignations of senior military officials involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal. He also resurrected his ban on transgender people serving in the military, mocking them as unfit for service.

Throughout his speech, Mr. Trump veered from one policy issue to the next, sometimes deviating from his prepared remarks. While he touched on the importance of the economy, he did not specify the second issue crucial to his potential victory.

As the rally came to a close, it became apparent that Mr. Trump's penchant for personal attacks and election doubts remained unchanged. Despite advisors' pleas to stick to policy, he opted to continue his confrontational approach in the face of criticism from his Democratic opponents.