MILWAUKEE, WI — The final day of the Republican Convention saw the delegates and members of the party rally around their nominee, Donald Trump, as he accepted the nomination and recounted last weekend’s assassination attempt on his life.
In case you missed it, here are three key takeaways from the final day of the Republican convention:
Trump details the assassination attempt
In the days leading up to Thursday’s speech, Trump allies have said that last weekend’s assassination attempt had “changed” Trump. That proved to be true for about 20 minutes.
The former president recalled how he heard the bullet whizz by his ear as photos of the moment appeared on the screens behind him. He was appeared emotional and said he was not supposed to be there.
“Yes, you are!” the crowd chanted.
“I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God,” Trump told the crowd.
Trump then took a moment to honor Corey Comperatore, the former fire chief who was fatally shot while shielding his family during the Butler rally. As he came on the stage, he walked over to Comperatore’s protective gear, and kissed his helmet.
The moment, which lasted around 20 minutes, was an attempt by the Trump campaign to paint the former president in a more attractive and sympathetic light to his supporters and America.
God, it was long
Trump’s speech lasted nearly two hours, clocking in at 1 hour and 36 minutes, making it the longest acceptance speech in party convention history. The former president went off teleprompter, continuing his false claims the election was stolen in 2020, called former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “crazy”, and praised several dictators such as North Korea’s strongman Kim Jung Un.
Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock, and Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White all spoke before Trump, painting a picture of a united America under Trump.
“We had a thriving economy, strong borders. We had safe streets. We had peace and respect around the world,” Hogan said. “But then we lost it all in a blink of an eye. Crime is out of control. The border is out of control. The price of food and gas and housing is out of control. And the only person who can clean this up is Donald Trump.”
What policy?
There was very little policy talk at this convention this week, instead Trumpism and Trump allies discussed the 2016 Trump administration and how they want to return to those days.
As for Trump himself, he mentioned lowering grocery bills, home prices, interest rates, gas and food prices. However, he failed to mention exactly how he would work to get those things done.
There is a policy outline but it is one that Trump will not want to bring up: Project 2025. The 900-page document details how to restrict abortion and end climate initiatives while giving the President total control of government bureaucracy.
