Donald Trump, holding his first campaign rally since surviving an assassination attempt, dismisses concerns that he is a threat to democracy, triumphantly telling a cheering crowd: "Last week I took a bullet for democracy." "I'm not an extremist at all," he continues at the rally in swing state of Michigan, dismissing his reported links to Project 2025, a radical shadow manifesto led by figures close to him that has been characterized by opponents as an authoritarian, right-wing wish list. Wearing a new, smaller, flesh-colored bandage over his right ear, the Republican presidential nominee mocks the rival Democratic Party, roiled by unprecedented pressure for President Joe Biden to abandon the White House race. "They have no idea who their candidate is... This guy goes and he gets the votes, and now they want to take it away. That's democracy," Trump tells the crowd of passionate supporters. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES