DALLAS -- Less than 48 hours before the second Republican primary debate, Donald Trump didn't seem worried.
"I hear they're all going after me. Whatever, whatever," he said, shrugging off the contest and his rivals with characteristic bluster.
Much of Trump's speech Monday evening at a packed Dallas arena followed the same pattern: Trump recounted insults, jabs and negative commentary from his rivals, the press or acquaintances -- then soundly rejected it all.
. @realDonaldTrump says he has to do different speeches all the time because networks take him live; other candidates can give same speech— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) September 14, 2015
Trump reminded the crowd here in Dallas that when he announced his run for president, most of the media dismissed him, agreeing that he'd quickly burn out.
"One person -- a real loser -- said 'he's a clown,'" Trump recalled. "Now they are saying 'how are we going to stop this guy.'"
He added: "I haven't heard the word clown in a while."
Trump on Karl Rove: He still thinks that Mitt Romney won!— Mashable Politics (@mashpolitics) September 14, 2015
He certainly wouldn't hear it here tonight, where a rambunctious crowd punctuated his meandering speech with applause, shouts and chants of "USA, USA."
While Trump's speech delved into few policy areas extensively, he drew the most applause from the crowd over the issue of immigration. Trump restated his pledge to build a wall between the U.S and Mexico declaring that "walls work." He called illegal immigration a "massive problem" and drew a standing ovation from the crowd for pledging to stop it.
Trump celebrated his success in the polls, telling the crowd "we are really killing it." But he also said the media had failed to give him his due. Trump claimed that the press labeled rises by rivals Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina "surges" -- but didn't do the same for him.
"I like Carly and I like Ben and I like many of the people that I am running against," the real-estate tycoon said. "Many of these people are terrific people, but nobody is going to be able to do the job that I am going to do."
At one point in his speech, Trump made a passing reference to his on-again, off-again feuding with Fox News host Megyn Kelly, who aggressively questioned Trump about his stance on women during the first GOP debate.
"We're going to have so many victories that at some point they are just going to be coming out of your ears," Trump told the crowd. Then, in an aside, he added he had to be "careful what I say about coming out of somebody’s ears."
"Nose, ears, eyes, those are the only places I’m talking about. The only," Trump said, drawing applause from the crowd.
Trump is now talking about the things he is sacrificing with presidential bid: I give up a lot...I love my business, I love what I'm doing.— Juana Summers (@jmsummers) September 14, 2015
Even hours before Trump was scheduled to take the stage, a long line of rally attendees wrapped around the building. Tickets to the rally at American Airlines Center, which seats about 20,000, sold out by Friday.
Trump's appearance in Dallas also drew critics. Hours ahead of his planned speech, a small counter-protest raged on, with people waving signs that drew comparisons between Trump and Adolf Hitler.
Meanwhile across the street, protestors hold signs linking @realDonaldTrump to Hitler. pic.twitter.com/DXb1guiXjd— Juana Summers (@jmsummers) September 14, 2015
Activists also took to the streets of Dallas, speaking out against Trump's immigration policies.
Approaching Houston, then turn to AAC #trumpindallas pic.twitter.com/i4c2ZIMFc7— Todd Unger (@ToddWFAA8) September 14, 2015
The "Dump the Trump" march was organized by members of the the League of United Latin American Citizens 102. The group's president, Domingo Garcia, said ahead of the rally that Trump had become "a very divisive and very intolerant figure in American politics."
Joe Biggs of Austin shows off his anti-@hillaryclinton shirt at @realdonaldtrump event in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/pD6MWyLubM— Juana Summers (@jmsummers) September 14, 2015
Trump will take part in the GOP debate on Wednesday night, hosted by CNN.