Donald Trump made a rare call for unity during his speech Thursday at the Republican National Convention—before returning to some more standard “American Carnage” material that received a standing ovation from his supporters.
Still wearing a bandage over his right ear, where he was injured in a shooting at a Pennsylvania rally days earlier, Trump began his speech by recounting the incident that claimed the life of one of his supporters. “I’m not supposed to be here tonight,” he said, calling his survival a “lucky moment.” After supporters chanted “yes, you are,” he responded, “Thank you, but I’m not,” and said he was now “more determined than ever” to be “president of all America, not half of America.”
“Our determination is unwavering and our purpose is unchanged,” he said calmly.
But he soon moved on to some of his most high-profile speeches, including criticism of the “Chinese virus,” Democrats “weaponizing the Department of Justice” against him, and the “invasion of illegal immigrants.” He also couldn’t help but attack his opponent, President Trump. Joe Bidenwho he said he would not name in his speech. “The damage he has done to this country is unimaginable,” Trump said.
The keynote speech began with flattery via Tucker Carlsona surreal speech by Hulk Hoganan extremely unpleasant performance by Kids Rockas well as an introduction from his son, Eric, and the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship Dana White.
The mood at Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks, was ostensibly celebratory. But it was also tinged with an undercurrent of hostility, as the crowd raised their fists and chanted, “Fight, fight, fight”—the same words Trump uttered to the crowd as he was escorted off the stage at his rally on Saturday. “Less than four years ago, we were a great country,” Trump told his loyalists. “We’re going to be a great country again.”
The speech capped off a week that was both festive and semi-religious.
For four days, Republicans — some wearing white headbands on their ears, in solidarity with the former president — roamed Milwaukee’s Deer District, showing off their love for Trump with elaborate costumes, mingling with MAGA celebrities like pillow salesmen Mike Lindelland even mix it in here and there with the occasional friendly reporter. “I won’t sign up Vanity Fair if it’s free,” said the chairman of the American Conservative Union. Matt Schlapp told me one afternoon, and he wasn’t going to let me ruin his good time. “It could be the best Republican convention ever.” when“ .
Here you can take a photo behind the Resolute Desk model, receive a signed book of Marjorie Taylor Greeneand hear from former White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley tells a funny story about the time Trump sprayed him with hairspray after trying to get the former president to focus on the raging pandemic one day instead of tweeting. You might see a police dog wearing a MAGA hat, hear that much Lee Greenwood as you can handle, or meet a guy wearing a shirt advertising “SPERM IS NOT VACCINED.” You can buy Trump-themed mugs, stuffed animals, fine china, or clothing that tells everyone: I AM VOTING FOR A CONVICTED CRIMINAL. You can even pick up a majestic green book of Trump’s tweets in verse, called Poetry Collection by Donald J. Trumpsold for $45 by Gregory Woodman And Ian Prattpeople wearing “Covfefe” T-shirts but insisting they are only familiar with Trump’s literary work. “Good art,” Woodman told me, “transcends politics.”
Of course, politics was the real business this week—and the nature of it all was incredibly dark, in stark contrast to the festive atmosphere and joy of those in attendance. Even as Republicans talked about “unity” and condemned Democrats’ rhetoric after the Trump rally shooting, they themselves couldn’t contain themselves. “The left wants to seduce kids,” Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey Democratic Party statement at a Mothers for Freedom Event here. “They want to sexualize children. And they want to do it in the name of diversity.” “I can’t explain the level of vitriol in our politics today,” Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson He shrugged at the same event. “I can’t get into the mind of a leftist. It doesn’t make sense to me. But I know it’s destructive.” Lindell, who was selling discounted mattress covers on Real America’s Voice one afternoon outside the Fiserv Forum, described the election as “a battle of biblical proportions,” suggesting, as others here have repeatedly done, that Trump survived his assassination attempt by divine intervention. (Thank God, Ted Cruz said in his speech at the conference, for having moved [Trump’s] early Saturday when that shot was fired.”)
