Six days after surviving an assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump appeared at the Republican National Convention to accept the party’s presidential nomination. He gave the longest acceptance speech in recent history, lasting over 90 minutes.
Intended as a speech to unite, Trump’s address soon veered into familiar grievances. He criticized undocumented immigration, alleged political “witch-hunts,” and election fraud. Despite this, his speech served as a dramatic finale at the Milwaukee convention, where Republicans showed enthusiastic support. This support starkly contrasted with President Joe Biden’s political difficulties, with Biden being scarcely mentioned.
Key takeaways from the Final Night
Trump’s call for unity
On this night, Trump initially sought to portray himself as a unifying leader, denouncing the demonization of political opponents and pledging to be a president for all Americans. He emphasized the need for national healing, stating that Americans are united by a shared destiny and must rise together.
Anti-Immigrant rhetoric
The call for unity was short-lived as Trump quickly shifted focus to anti-immigrant rhetoric. He described the influx of undocumented immigrants as an “invasion” and accused other countries of treating America as a dumping ground for criminals and mental health patients. Trump claimed this was the greatest invasion in history, with immigrants coming from all corners of the globe. However, research from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2020 indicated that undocumented immigrants have lower crime rates compared to native-born citizens.
Focus on international crises
Trump’s speech highlighted global crises, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan. He portrayed a world in disarray and blamed Biden for weakening US influence abroad. Although Trump did not specify how he would address these issues, he asserted that such events would not have occurred under his leadership. He controversially linked Hamas’s attack on Israel to Biden’s Iran policy, despite US intelligence reports suggesting Tehran had no prior knowledge of the attack. Trump also refrained from criticizing Biden’s support for Israel during the speech.
Republicans cite divine intervention
One of the most anticipated moments was Trump’s recounting of his assassination attempt. Republican speakers at the convention suggested that Trump’s survival was due to divine intervention, depicting him as a messianic figure. Reverend Lorenzo Sewell remarked that only God knew of the miracle that allowed Trump to speak at the convention.
Republicans defend Trump’s character
Following the assassination attempt, Trump received a wave of support, and Republican officials at the convention aimed to highlight his character as a family man and concerned citizen. Trump is known for emphasizing his achievements and wealth, but convention speakers on Thursday portrayed him as caring and selfless. His son Eric Trump highlighted his father’s decision to leave behind his business empire to serve the nation, while conservative media personality Tucker Carlson noted Trump’s focus on his supporters rather than himself after the attack.