GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE said Tuesday evening that he speaks for Americans exasperated by a government that ignores their needs and tarnishes their nation’s prestige.

Trump issued his rallying cry from the deck of the USS Iowa, a retired battleship, during a wide-ranging national security address that spent little time on national security.

ADVERTISEMENT

“This is a movement,” the outspoken billionaire told listeners at the port of Los Angeles. “I love you all.

“I want you people to look around and look at one another because this is going to be a special day,” he said. “People aren’t silent anymore.

“They are disgusted with our politicians,” Trump argued. “They are disgusted with the people giving our nation away. They are disgusted when a woman who is nine months comes across the border and has a baby, and then they have to take care of that baby for the next 85 years.”

In a speech aimed at America’s current and retired military personnel, Trump claimed that there is no greater travesty than the Veterans Administration’s healthcare system.



“What’s going on is incredible,” he said. “I am with the veterans 100 percent. They are our greatest people [and] they are being treated terribly.



“Right now, we have illegal immigrants that are treated better, by far, than our veterans,” Trump said.



“That’s not going to happen anymore,” the real estate tycoon added. “You are going to get the greatest service of any veterans in any country because you deserve it.”



Illegal immigration again served as one of Trump’s favorite targets, as he repeated arguments that it brings a tidal wave of narcotics and violent crimes into the U.S.



“There are tremendous drugs pouring across our border,” he said. “Drugs pour in, money pours out. Not a good deal. The drug cartels are running wild.”

Trump delivered his remarks with the USS Iowa’s three artillery cannons aiming at viewers from behind his podium.



Following the speech, he tossed the crowd hats bearing his now-famous campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.”



On Wednesday evening, Trump will join 10 other Republican White House hopefuls in the second GOP debate, airing live on CNN from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.



Trump’s presence has left the rest of the Republican contenders — currently 16 in number — scrambling for attention amid his outsized media persona and surging polling numbers.



The business magnate said on Tuesday evening that he is ready for the competition.



“I’m here for a certain reason — it’s called tomorrow night,” Trump joked during his rally’s opening moments.

Trump argued he is going to restore American authority on the world stage by instilling new respect in other global leaders.



“The leaders of Mexico, China, Japan and all the other countries that we do business with are smarter, more cunning and sharper than our leaders,” he said. “We are going to have a president who is respected by Putin and who is respected by Iran.”



Trump ranks first nationally out of the GOP field with 29.8 percent, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average.

— Updated at 10:31 p.m.