Former President Donald Trump lobbied for J.D. Vance in Ohio on Saturday, attempting to repair his image among Republicans after the primary season ended and a plethora of candidates contending for the centre ahead of the November midterm elections.

Also read: Donald Trump says JD Vance is ‘kissing my ass’ for support in Ohio rally

After commending Vance as an “incredible patriot who will fight Biden and the radical left media every day,” the former president went on the attack Saturday in response to reports that Republican Senate candidates were attempting to distance themselves from the former president.

Trump claimed Vance was “kissing my ass,” before lauding his own support in the state he defeated Joe Biden by 8 points in 2020. Trump held a rally for Vance in Delaware County, Ohio, in April.

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Trump’s delivery was dramatic and assessed as he spoke for nearly two hours in Youngstown’s Covelli Centre, targeting transgender students in sports and requesting the death penalty for drug dealers and human traffickers while highlighting his vision of America with Democrats’ on immigration, crime, and abortion.

Trump also spoke extensively about the active investigations into his own actions since leaving office, particularly the confiscation of classified documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Also read: Donald Trump Ohio speech: Highlights of what he said in JD Vance support rally

“The people behind these savage witch hunts have no shame or morals, no conscience, and absolutely no respect for the citizens of our country,” Trump said, referring to the “Washington swamp” and “the unprecedented weaponization of the Justice Department.”

He also discussed “unhinged persecution of me and my staff” and “political repression.”

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“I hope you’re going to do something about it, J.D.,” Trump said several times during the rally.

However, in Youngstown, Trump appeared to be much more concerned with his own electoral fortunes than Vance’s, repeatedly hinting at his own 2024 presidential run. “Stay tuned, everybody. Stay tuned,” he announced to the eager audience.