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Donald J. Trump during a rally on Monday that drew thousands to the American Airlines Center in Dallas.Credit Cooper Neill for The New York Times

DALLAS — The revelers gathered on the plaza hours early, the main attraction’s likeness splashed across their T-shirts, buttons and, occasionally, body parts.

They chanted puns (“Trump up the jam!”). They insulted Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. They shouted down a Hispanic man from a local radio station who had offered attendees the choice to whack or hug a Trump piñata.

And when the star appeared just after 6:30 p.m. on Monday, fans cheered by the thousands to remind Donald J. Trump that the “silent majority” he has hailed — in the Nixonian echo of his candidacy — seems to require some tweaking.

“It’s back,” Mr. Trump said in a basketball arena here with most seats filled, “and it’s not silent.”

On Monday, Mr. Trump brought his campaign-cum-roadshow to Texas, delivering his searing indictment of Washington politics, his Republican rivals and many others to a crowd that began funneling into the American Airlines Center well before his scheduled start time.

He assailed Jeb Bush, whose mention inspired raucous boos, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, who attracted an even louder chorus. “Well, Jeb’s more popular than one person,” Mr. Trump said.

He praised Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, conditionally: “If he comes out and attacks me on Wednesday night,” he said of the second Republican debate, “I will take it back immediately.”

Most forcefully, Mr. Trump lamented what he described as a scourge of undocumented immigration, a stance that has helped fuel his rise to the top of the polls.

“Many of these gang members are illegal immigrants. They’re rough dudes,” he said to swelling cheers, adding that they would not remain in the country long on his watch.

Like most Trump outings in recent weeks, the campaign stop doubled as a television event of sorts, a reality that Mr. Trump clearly relished during a characteristically meandering speech that lasted over an hour.

Turning to the cameras assembled before him, he said that, unlike other candidates, he was required to produce fresh material for every stump speech.

“Every time I speak they put me on live television,” he said, “so I have to make different speeches.”

Mr. Trump’s confidence remained undiminished: He appraised himself as an unrivaled builder, a self-funder unencumbered by political “blood money” and an all-around winner of the highest order.

Poll numbers were broached frequently, with Mr. Trump complaining of a purported rounding conspiracy.

“I’m at 40, and it’s actually 41, but they don’t want to say that,” he said referring to his percentage of support. “If I’m at 40.9, they’ll say I’m at 40.”

He vowed to improve America’s standing in the world, citing his experience as a negotiator, and repeated a call to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, though the details of this endeavor remained murky.

A supporter suggested a name from the rafters: DonaldCare.

“Thank you!” Mr. Trump said. “We’ll call it DonaldCare.”

His closing remarks drew upon the mantra etched across his signature campaign hat.

“You’re going to say to your children, and you’re going to say to anybody else, that we were part of a movement to take back our country,” he said. “And we will make America great again.”

Earlier, some in the crowd had become a bit restless when Mr. Trump remained out of sight for about 30 minutes after the announced start time for his speech.

One speaker, who had just introduced him, offered a reason for the delay: “He’s back there,” she said, gesturing offstage, “doing exceptional things.”

Before the event, several people sought to replicate what they saw as Mr. Trump’s capitalist spirit. Working the plaza, Rick Snowden and Janet Newlon moved to sell the last of their Trump swag: 24 hats, 36 visors and 100 buttons, driven here from Tennessee.

Mr. Snowden is an entrepreneur, he said. Just like Mr. Trump.

“It’s very attractive to think of a candidate who’s not beholden,” Mr. Snowden said. He added that the gathering called to mind a Barry Goldwater rally he had attended in 1964.

A man who identified himself as Jake Byrd — who appeared to be a performance artist, with past appearances on the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” television show — said Mr. Trump had been treated unfairly in the news media, singling out Mr. Trump’s past comments about “the blacks” in reference to African-Americans. He turned to two African-American women, covered in Trump buttons, to make his case.

“Uh,” said one of the women, Beckie Hayes of Fort Worth, “we haven’t picked up on that one yet.”

Demonstrators from the League of United Latin American Citizens held a march outside the event to protest Mr. Trump’s caustic words about immigrants.

A leader of the group, Christopher Enriquez, said before the event that Mr. Trump’s popularity had dimmed his view of the nation’s progress, and of the residents of Dallas, where Mr. Enriquez has spent his life.

“I’m surprised that so many people think alike,” he said, scanning a crowd of hundreds outside before the speech.

A protester unaffiliated with the group, Julio Quiroz, 25, wore a clown wig and held a sign disparaging Mr. Trump.

But as the gates to the arena opened soon after, comity remained within reach. Mr. Byrd, the cheeky Trump supporter, wandered over to Mr. Quiroz to defend his candidate. Mr. Quiroz held firm, politely, laughing occasionally.

Mr. Byrd moved in for a hug.

“I’m going to build a wall around this Mexican,” he said, drawing Mr. Quiroz near.