Trump wraps up RNC with message of unity
MILWAUKEE—Former President Donald Trump told the story of Saturday’s assassination attempt for the first, and what he said the only, time on Thursday night when he accepted the Republican nomination for presidential candidate. He began the speech by thanking the thousands of delegates and supporters for prayers, and he credited God with saving his life, saying, “I felt safe because I had God on my side.” He also brought the helmet and uniform of firefighter Corey Comperatore, a Pennsylvania man who was killed on Saturday. Trump said he was more determined to win the election and he was the only one working to save democracy. He called on voters to debate issues rather than demonizing people to avoid further political violence.
“The discord and division in our society must be healed. We must heal it quickly,” Trump said. “As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart. I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America because there is no victory in winning for half of America.”
How did voters respond? Throughout much of the speech, Trump spoke in a quieter, more measured tone than his typical style. Several delegates told WORLD they appreciated the shift.
“He was trying to unite us,” Florida delegate Amy Lee Stuckey said. “He didn’t want to be incendiary or volatile. It was a soft delivery, and I think it was on purpose.”
“His speech really reignited that sense of what I want for the country,” said Esther Merczynski, a 22-year-old voter from New York. “It was definitely more focused on love and peace and bringing the country back together, and I thought that was very important for both Republicans and Democrats.”
“I don’t think I've ever seen a Republican party so united before as tonight,” said Rick Lacey, a Florida delegate. “I think God helped us on Saturday by dodging that bullet and saving his life. It wasn’t a coincidence that that was an inch away from having a terrible tragedy for America, but I think what’s going to come out of this is a tsunami election that’s going to win an overwhelming majority landslide in November.”
What else did Trump say? The speech lasted about 90 minutes, the longest RNC acceptance speech in modern history. He thanked family members for delivering speeches in support earlier this week. And he praised newly announced running mate J.D. Vance, who he said “is going to be doing this for a long time. So enjoy the ride.” Trump called former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., “Crazy Nancy.” He promised mass deportations of illegal immigrants, lower taxes, and an end to the wars in Ukraine and Israel.
What is next? Trump will hold a rally in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Saturday in the indoor Van Andel arena. His campaign has not publicly commented on whether it will continue to host outdoor rallies after Saturday’s shooting. Meanwhile, Democrats have signaled strong dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who faces a tight race in November, was the second Democratic senator to demand Biden drop his reelection campaign. Pelosi said Biden is considering his options.
Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report in The Stew about low polling and party discontent with Biden.
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“I felt safe because I had God on my side.” I humbly refer him to Mr. Lincoln's observation that it's much more important for HIM to be on GOD's side.
"He called on voters to debate issues rather than demonizing people to avoid further political violence." Not calling someone "Crazy" would have been a great opportunity to start leading by example in that direction.
On the comment in the article, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the party so united”—I’m pretty sure that’s because the more Reagan-like Republicans (Pence, for example, but there were others) were just absent. The Republican Party has been stripped of dissenters.
There were many good points and sobering moments in President Trump’s speech at the RNC throughout. It’s always too easy to nitpick —the speech was too long, he said this about someone, didn’t say that. There’s just no pleasing those who are already determined to dislike the man.
One good segment serves as antidote to the otherwise mean-spirited criticisms, he thanked Rev. Franklin Graham: “We live in a world of miracles. None of us knows God's plan or where life's adventure will take us. I want to thank Franklin Graham for being here tonight, he’s an outstanding man. He wrote me a note recently. I have a lot of respect for him: “Sir. I love your storytelling. I think it's great in front of these big rallies. But, sir, please do me one favor. It won't make any difference. Please don't use any foul language.” I was a little embarrassed. He said it won't make any difference, actually, as the story's not quite as good. But I've been very good… I've got to have a little talk with Frank… He's a great gentleman… My father loved Billy Graham, but I love Franklin Graham. I think Franklin has been fantastic and I'm trying. I'm just working so hard to adhere to his note to me. I'm working hard on it, Franklin.”
Let’s keep President Trump and his family and his team in prayer. I like what Sen. JD Vance said in his speech at the Faith and Freedom Coalition on President Trump: “…so l'd ask my social conservative friends as you see the administration unfold and as you see the campaign unfold, remember that this is a guy who delivered for social conservatives more than any president in my 39 years of life. I think he deserves a little bit of grace, and he deserves a little bit of trust, and I hope that we will all provide that to him. I certainly know that as his running mate, I will.”
“The discord and division in our society must be healed. We must heal it quickly,” Trump said. “As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart. I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America because there is no victory in winning for half of America.”…….
Trump called former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., “Crazy Nancy.”
I looked forward to a kinder, gentler Trump, one who recognizes the providence of God in sparing his life, and ultimately surrendering his life to Christ. Old sin nature still rears its ugly head though. Talk about toning down the rhetoric in one breath, and demonizing a political opponent in the next, isn’t the best way to start the journey toward unity.
It's telling that President Trump apparently called for debating issues rather than "demonizing people"...and then referred to Nancy Pelosi as "Crazy Nancy" in the same speech. I had hoped that narrowly escaping death might bring him to truly seek Jesus rather than using God as a political tool for his own glory. But...he's alive, so there's hope yet.
It was a very long speech but very substantive. If this was all you got out of it I can only wonder if you heard the speech. His description of the assassination attempt was riveting. His honoring firefighter Corey Comperatore left everyone in tears. Trumps demeanor was changed as he talked about God saving him from the bullet. He was energized to serve Him by doing his absolute best to bring this country back from the edge we are teetering on. All Christians should rejoice and pray for the man that he is saved if he isn’t already and that he is successful as president.
I was commenting on facts given in this article, not the speech as a whole. And of course we should pray for him. Just as we should every leader. That's a Biblical given.