asserted

to behave in a way that expresses your confidence, importance, or power and earns you respect from others:

I really must assert myself more in meetings.

She very quickly asserted her authority over the class.

The book asserts that the 1969 moon landing was a hoax.

The prime minister asserted that he had no intention of resigning.

He made a special appearance on television asserting that the allegations against him were false.