For his return to the campaign trail after recovering from COVID-19, Mr Trump flew to Florida, the place he describes as his home state, and a crucial battleground if he wants to keep the White House.

He went back to some of his most-reliable rhetoric, telling the crowd he is "not a politician", warning about the power of China and his opponent "Sleepy Joe".

"If I don't sound like a typical politician, it's because frankly I'm not a politician," he said to an uproar of support from the crowd.

"I'm embarrassed by politicians … I had a very nice life before this. It was a lot easier."

In a festival atmosphere, supporters had made their way through car parks and around merchandise stands to file into the venue and Mr Trump gave them what they came for.

"We're returning power to you, the American people," he said.

"We are going to keep on working. We are going to keep on fighting. And we are going to keep on winning, winning, winning."

The crowd helped him finish that last line.

For 60 minutes, Mr Trump covered topics popular with his base, including America's wealth, the military, immigration and police funding.

Talking to his supporters as they arrived, it's clear they are here for him, not the Republican Party he leads.

Bob Kunst, 78, says he's technically a registered Democrat, but he votes for Mr Trump. He says this is his 188th Trump event.

"This is not a Republican crowd, this is a Trump crowd," he said.

"There are probably a lot of people like me but the Republican Party doesn't do any outreach to me, Trump does as a person and as a President."

Mr Trump said his Government was doing more for the US than any administration had ever done.

"Together with the people of Florida, we have made America wealthy again," he said.

Supporters on their way into the venue were quick to list the economy and their belief Mr Trump had handed jobs back to the people of Florida as the reasons they were there.

COVID-19 diagnosis brings Trump closer to some supporters

The event was Mr Trump's first outside of Washington after he contracted COVID-19 less than two weeks ago.

Over the weekend, US media criticised the President for holding the event after his diagnosis and for refusing to confirm he has returned a negative result in a COVID-19 test.

Then today, the President's physician Sean Conley released a statement saying: "In response to your inquiry … I can share with you that he has tested negative on consecutive days."

At this rally, you may struggle to find a lot of people who care either way.

"I think it's important and a positive, not a negative. He's now one of us," Mr Kunst said.

"He's gone through it and he's beaten it."

Mr Trump told the audience he is now immune to the disease — a claim that cannot be supported by science given how little is known about this novel virus.

"I went through it. Now they say I'm immune," he told the cheering crowd.

"I feel so powerful I'll walk into that audience. I'll walk in there, I'll kiss everyone in that audience. I'll kiss the guys and the beautiful woman and … I'll just give you a big fat kiss.

"It's risky, but you've gotta get out."

Story By | Emily Clark in Sanford, Florida