In what is now the longest acceptance speech in history, Trump told his account of the assassination attempt. He also discussed border security, inflation, and domestic energy production.
Accepting the Republican nomination for President for the third time in eight years in Milwaukee, former President Donald Trump gave the crowd at the Republican National Convention a long, emotionally vacillating speech. Trump’s remarks opened with an appeal for unity: “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.”
Later in the speech, the former President, who is currently leading in both national and battleground state polls, Trump repeated his efforts to unify the country, saying “we must now come together, rise above past differences and disagreements, and go forward united, as one people, and one nation.”
Media reports indicated Trump completely rewrote his speech after the events of last Saturday, in which an assassination attempt was made on Trump’s life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump, with his right ear still bandaged from the shot that was millimeters away from changing history, gave his account of what happened that day, saying it would be the only time he recounts the day.
“I am not supposed to be here tonight,” Trump said. “I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God. Many people say it was a providential moment.” The convention crowd forced Trump to pause as they chanted back “Yes, you are!” Trump also paid tribute to volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore, who lost his life at the rally while protecting his family from the gunman.
On the policy front, Trump focused on border security, blasting the Biden administration (who he tried to not mention by name) and saying the border will be “totally secure” and will finish building the border wall if he wins reelection.
Trump also pledged to tackle inflation by “end[ing] the ridiculous waste of taxpayer dollars that is fueling the inflation crisis” and redirecting allocated-but-unspent federal dollars on what he calls “Green New Scam” programs to other infrastructure.
A pledge for energy independence was also made, focusing on the development of America’s natural resources, using the popular phrase “Drill, Baby, Drill.”
The speech ended on an optimistic note, asking for Americans’ vote and pledging to “honor the trust you have placed in me” while vowing to “usher in the rich and wonderful tomorrows that our people truly deserve.”
It ended after 92 minutes, making it the longest acceptance speech in the history of political conventions.
The Democratic National Convention in Chicago does not begin until August 19th.
