It was a wild final night at the Republican National Convention. “Wild” in a good sense, as it reflected the persona of Donald Trump in multiple ways.
Especially when you consider all the elements involved.
— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) July 19, 2024
Hulk Hogan came out and tore off his shirt (because why not). Kid Rock came out and performed. Dana White gave an introduction to Donald Trump. Lee Greenwood sang Donald Trump onto the stage in person. And then Donald Trump walked in – and it was possibly the most Trump thing ever.
Now that's an entrance #RNC2024 pic.twitter.com/4IUEgVAzCO
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 19, 2024
However, the speech was, as promised, a call for unity at the very beginning.
Delivering on his promise to promote unity, Trump said that he wanted to win the presidency for all Americans — and that there was “no victory in winning” if it was only for half the country.
“I stand before you this evening with a message of confidence, strength, and hope,” he began. “Four months from now we will have an incredible victory and we will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country. Together we will launch a new era of safety, prosperity, and freedom for citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed.”
“The discord and division in our society must be healed. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart,” Trump continued. “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.”
And then, in what was truly the most gripping part of the speech, Donald Trump described from his perspective what happened on Saturday in Pennsylvania.
“So many people have asked me what happened, ‘tell us what happened please,’ and therefore, I’ll tell you exactly what happened, and you’ll never hear it from me a second time, because it’s actually too painful to tell,” Trump told the crowd gathered for the final day of the Republican National Convention in a speech formally accepting the party’s presidential nomination.
The former president said he began speaking “very strongly, powerfully and happily” while discussing his administration’s efforts to curtail illegal immigration at the southern border, and began to turn to his right toward a chart displaying border crossings when he heard a “loud whizzing sound” and felt something hit him in the right ear.
Trump said he believed immediately that it was a bullet and, after feeling his ear with his hand, saw it was covered with blood.
“I immediately knew it was very serious, that we were under attack, and in one movement, proceeded to drop to the ground,” he said.
As U.S. Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and surrounded him for protection, Trump said he felt “very safe, because I had God on my side.”
“The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be here tonight. We would not be together,” he said.
Trump then praised the crowd of supporters who attended the rally and said after the gunshots rang out, they did not flee for the exits, but instead pointed to the shooter. The former president told the audience that he believes many in attendance thought he was dead and did not want to leave him.
“I am not supposed to be here tonight,” he said. “I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God. And watching the reports over the last few days, Many people say it was a providential moment. Probably was.”
Trump then described lifting his right arm and shouting “fight,” a scene that was captured by photographers at the rally and prompted cheers from the crowd.
“For the rest of my life, I will be grateful for the love shown by that giant audience of patriots that stood bravely on that fateful evening in Pennsylvania,” he said.
While there are still many questions about the actions of the Secret Service and the investigation into the shooter, Trump reflected on none of that. And it is entirely true, as he said, that if the crowd had panicked and stampeded, there would have been many more injured at the rally. And it was so very, very moving when Trump went to kiss the helmet of Corey Comperatore (whose helmet and jacket were brought onstage to be honored by Trump), and then asked for a moment of silence.
Trump then proceeded to give the rest of his speech, and while he had good lines and good moments, it was obvious to both the convention goers and the audience at large when he was on script, and when he was just way out in the weeds.
Trump’s speech was cut short in Butler, PA. He’s making up for it.
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) July 19, 2024
This speech – the entirety of which can be seen here – clocks in 92 minutes. To put that in context, the June 27th debate was 90 minutes long, had two commercial breaks, and Donald Trump did not talk the entire time. Say what you will about the long, drawn-out tangents and the extended story-telling time (and you can say a LOT), but Donald Trump has physical stamina.
In case you’re wondering Trump is speaking this long to make it clear he can be active in hours well beyond 10-4.
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) July 19, 2024
Despite the length and rambling of the speech itself – which did have important moments, like Trump calling for the release of the hostages being held in Gaza, and when he named Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, and Jocelyn Nungaray when addressing crime by illegal migrants – the tone and demeanor were very different than what we have seen from him up until now. A brush with death can definitely do that to a person. In fact, one of the meandering moments actually turned into a great moment when Donald Trump talked about the chart that had been on display at the rally – and then, there it was on the big screen at the convention.
THE CHART THAT SAVED DONALD TRUMP'S LIFE! pic.twitter.com/aOgwpWuTx2
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 19, 2024
Will this speech go down as one of Donald Trump’s best speeches ever? No. Did it strike a good tone and advocate for unity, as he had promised earlier? Yes. Could the speech have been trimmed down by 30 minutes and still have been effective? Absolutely.
Can Joe Biden give a 90 minute speech at the Democratic National Convention one month from now? For all we know, Joe Biden won’t even be the nominee one month from now. Democrats are currently in a flat-out panic over Biden’s current status, and if Jill and Hunter can keep him locked away from the rest of the Democrat leadership for the rest of this weekend, his odds of remaining the nominee increases. The Democrats are running out of time, and if they can’t convince Joe to quit the race, they will have to 25th Amendment him – and that would stick them with Kamala Harris.
The Republican National Convention looked amazing on camera, was well scripted, and had gut-wrenching emotional moments. How does the DNC even attempt to match this with a president who sundowns after 4 pm Eastern time?
Featured image: original Victory Girls art by Darleen Click
A reader says: Unifying? Did you watch all 90+ minutes? He was only unifying for a short bit at the beginning before he began his usual name calling of Democrats and talking points like about mass deportation. That’s not unifying.
Also, he was very low energy. And he rambled on like it was an Oscars speech, thanking people. Plus the weird kissing of the helmet of the man who died— whose name was spelled wrong on the coat but details, details. There was nothing about policy, nothing of any real substance. In fact, he even mentioned Hannibal Lecter again. Oh and he praised his relationships with dictators like Victor Orban, Kim Jong Un and Putin. That’s not exactly a good look, but whatever. According to reporting from the floor of the convention, people were nodding off which is also not a good look. Basically, this was like a speech from a dictator or cult leader. Did you drink the Flavor Aid?
Having the nominee from a major party look like a crazed demented grandpa shouting at the sky is not a good look. It’s not going to win over independent voters. Notice how no former Republican presidents or even really any leaders spoke during the convention. That’s a big tell. Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock are not going to draw in voters. Most people would probably vote for a ham sandwich rather than a leader like Trump, even if they’re vegetarian.
Also, I get that you’re desperate for Joe Biden to drop out. It’s not happening. There is literally no way to get another nominee on the ballot without it being an utter disaster with court challenges and complete loss of funding. Plus there are leaders in the party who still support him. So maybe it’s time to wake up from your Flavor Aid induced haze.
Cameron says: Having the nominee from a major party look like a crazed demented grandpa shouting at the sky is not a good look.
Self awareness is not really one of your virtues.
“Oh and he praised his relationships with dictators like Victor Orban, Kim Jong Un and Putin”
And like most liberals, you throw shit like that out and never back it up with any proof. You seem to think of yourself as above reproach.
Now run along child. The grownups are talking. Maybe you can finally get your dad to play catch out on the lawn assuming he’s not embarrassed to admit your his.
Cameron says: And as for desperate, your worship of Biden makes you sound more desperate than a 15 year old boy on his first date.
Nina Bookout says: You don’t stop to think that perhaps Trump’s tone at the RNC speech was due to oh… I don’t know… NEARLY BEING KILLED??!!!
An event like that would make nearly every person a lot more reflective.
Recent interviews by the current office holder show him to be a near imitation of the demented grandpa shouting at the sky, but you do you.
As has been debunked by the folks from his own fire station, Corey Comperatore’s name has ALWAYS been that spelling on his uniform.
Cameron says: You don’t stop to think
No he doesn’t.
Scott says: Normally I like to respond and tear apart the dumb shit a reader spews, but that post is so nonsensical and filled ith bullshit, I’m at a loss for what to say.
Well, all but two things. Kissing the helmet was showing respect for the fallen, like when the Gold Star families said the names of those biden allowed to die at Abbey Gate (and neither biden nor harris has EVER said their names).. it’s called respect, something reader would know shit all about.. As for the spelling of his name on the coat, that was the Chiefs actual gear, not some prop you freaking moron, so it was not President Trump, nor his team that misspelled it.
i do have one question for you though reader… did your mom have any children that lived?
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