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Trump the campaign trail showman returns on 'thank you' tour

Posted at 3:43 PM, Dec 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-02 04:15:28-05

CINCINNATI (AP) -- The pugnacious, brawling Donald Trump voters got to know during the presidential campaign is back.

The president-elect returned to his campaign roots Thursday in his first major public appearance since Election Day, holding court in front of thousands of adoring fans - and even making the surprise announcement that he will be offering the post of Defense Secretary to retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis.

The raucous rally in Ohio had all the hallmarks of a reunion tour: Trump took a veiled swipe at fellow Republicans.

He remembered his general election foe by joking, "We had fun fighting Hillary, didn't we?" He boasted about size of his victory and repeatedly bashed the media. Protesters briefly interrupted the proceedings. And the crowd chanted "Build the Wall" and "Lock Her Up."