Trump will accept GOP nomination at RNC, give first speech after assassination attempt

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Donald Trump takes the stage Thursday at the Republican National Convention to accept his party’s nomination again and give his first speech since he was cut off mid-sentence by a flurry of gunfire in an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.Trump’s address will conclude the four-day convention in Milwaukee. He appeared each of the first three days with a white bandage on his ear, covering a wound he sustained in the Saturday shooting.Democratic Sen. Jon Tester called President Biden to drop out of the presidential raceThe Montana senator is up for reelection this year, hoping to hold onto Democrats’ only congressional seat in the state.“I have worked with President Biden when it has made Montana stronger, and I’ve never been afraid to stand up to him when he is wrong,” Tester told the Daily Montanan. “And while I appreciate his commitment to public service and our country, I believe President Biden should not seek re-election to another term.”He is the second Democratic senator to call for Biden to exit the race. Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont called for Biden to step down earlier this month.Tucker Carlson says ‘everything was different’ after the attempted assassination of Donald TrumpFormer Fox News host Tucker Carlson says that he called Trump hours after Saturday’s assassination attempt and the former president didn’t talk about himself.“He said only how amazed he was and how proud he was of the crowd that didn’t run,” Tucker recounted. “Of course, they didn’t run; his courage gave them heart.”Carlson also said that Trump didn’t try to create division after the attack. “He turned down the most obvious opportunity to inflame the nation,” Carlson said. Carlson suggested that Trump went through a “transformation” after the assassination attempt at a Trump political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.Referring to the shooting, Carlson said, “Everything was different after that moment.” Carlson said he first noticed the “transformation” when Trump, surrounded by Secret Service agents on the stage and with blood running down his face, raised his fist in the air after the shooting. Carlson said that Trump “was no longer just a political party’s nominee, or a former president or a future president. This was the leader of a nation,” Carlson said. Country singer Jason Aldean greets Trump at the conventionHow much Trump loves music has come up several times in Thursday’s speeches, and he’s got a country star with him in the box.Jason Aldean is seated with Trump for the RNC’s final night. He and his wife, Brittany, shook hands with Trump and have been spotted speaking with him during the program.Aldean, a Trump supporter, dedicated his song “Try That in a Small Town” to Trump during a recent concert in Nashville following the Pennsylvania assassination attempt.Last year, the music video for the song — which became that summer’s political litmus test — received fervent criticism online, with some claiming the visual is a “dog whistle” and others labeling it “pro-lynching.”In the video, Aldean performed in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, the site of a 1946 race riot and a 1927 mob lynching of an 18-year-old Black teenager named Henry Choate.‘Every attack on President Trump only strengthens our movement,’ Trump attorney and adviser saysAlina Habba, Trump’s attorney and adviser, offered a humanizing portrait of Trump, a man she said “loves this country” and “lifts up those around him.”She told the story of being on the phone with him outside a courthouse when a man on the street yelled, “God Bless you and President Trump!” She said Trump overheard the man and asked her to hand over the phone so he could thank him personally for his support.“The left has tried to demolish Trump, but there is no bulldozer big enough or strong enough to remove the legacy that he has built or the future he has created,” she said, adding, “Every attack on President Trump only strengthens our movement.”She also talked about Saturday’s failed assassination attempt.“So let us not forget that President Trump did not just take a bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. He has and will continue to take them for each and every one of us.”RNC video uses Ronald Reagan quote from 1980 presidential debateA video that played at the RNC before conservative media personality Tucker Carlson took the stage evoked the voice of late former President Ronald Reagan.The video used Reagan’s words made famous during the 1980 presidential debate against former President Jimmy Carter: “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?”In the video, Reagan asked voters to “ask yourself” if it was “easier” to buy products at the grocery store, if unemployment numbers have risen or fallen, if America is “as respected throughout the world as it was,” and if the nation feels more or less secure than it was four years prior.New York builders attest to Trump’s personal characterNew York builders father and son Steven and Zach Witkoff were among speakers meant to serve as witnesses for Trump as a friend and employer.The former president’s persona has been well-defined after a term in office and a highly public profile since leaving office.The father and son vouched for Trump as a boss and a grandfather.“I have witnessed his leadership in quiet moments,” Steve Witkoff said. “When times are really tough, when he has everything to lose and nothing to gain, Donald Trump is there for you.”Describing pain that was “unbearable,” Steve Wifcoff told of Trump’s outreach after the man’s son died of an opioid overdose.“That’s who he is,” Steven Witcoff said.In a passionate speech, a Detroit pastor speaks in favor of TrumpThe pastor of a Black church in Detroit that Trump visited last month has suggested that the former president came to his congregation to listen and learn.“Could it be that Jesus Christ preserved him for a time such as this?” Lorenzo Sewell, a Detroit pastor, proclaimed, as thousands of delegates cheered and rose to their feet.Sewell made repeated Biblical references, and reminded the crowd that Trump “came to the hood because he cares about average everyday Americans.”Sewell also made several references to the assassination attempt, saying that “if President Donald Trump would have moved just a millimeter,” he would not have been at the convention.Addressing his “Democrat friends,” Sewell asked if they knew of anyone who had been “convicted of 34 counts, raised 53 million dollars in 24 hours and could be the 47th president of America — and he was shot one time. Do you know anybody like that?”Senators night in Trump’s family boxA group of Trump’s most loyal allies in the Senate are seated in the former president’s exclusive box at the RNC on Thursday night. Sens. Mike Lee, Bill Hagerty, and Ted Cruz are filling the seats ahead of the arrival of Trump’s family for his highly anticipated speech. Some Senate hopefuls are also lounging in the area, including Nevada GOP candidate Sam Brown.Donald Trump arrives for the fourth night of the RNCAfter a video montage of the former president dancing at various events to The Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.,” Donald Trump arrived for the fourth night of the convention.With a bandage still covering his ear, Trump entered the floor of the arena to thunderous applause.Trump will speak later as he formally accepts the party’s nomination.Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo takes RNC stageFormer Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is highlighting the foreign policy accomplishments of Trump’s administration, saying, “We put America first every single day.”Pompeo also lashed out at Biden for the disastrous pullout from Afghanistan and blamed him for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Gaza’s attack on Israel.“We can’t trust the Biden administration,” he said.Pompeo, who also served as Trump’s CIA director and represented Kansas in Congress, considered challenging Trump this year for the GOP nomination. But he decided to stay out of the race, saying the time was not right for him and his family. Down the block from the RNC, dozens gather to mourn two deadDown the block from the RNC, about 50 family members and supporters of two Milwaukee men recently killed in separate circumstances rallied and marched to call attention to the two deaths.The event focused on the death of Samuel Sharpe, a homeless man fatally shot Tuesday by out-of-state police officers deployed to Milwaukee for the RNC, as well D’Vontaye Mitchell, who died last month after he was pinned down by security guards at a nearby hotel.The deaths of the two men, both of whom were Black, has inflamed tensions within the city, with Sharpe’s killing in particular focusing scrutiny on the law enforcement approach to the convention.Speaking to dozens of protesters and a phalanx of reporters, Angelique Sharpe attributed her brother’s death to the presence of out-of-state police officers.“I’d rather have the Milwaukee police department who know the people of this community (than) people who have no ties to your community and don’t care nothing about our extended family members down there,” she said.Police officials said Sharpe was shot by five Columbus, Ohio, police officers who spotted him lunging at another man with two knives.At the rally, Angelique Sharpe said her brother suffered from multiple sclerosis and was acting in self-defense against a person who had threatened him in recent days.Professional wrestling and other stars present at RNCThere was some star power as the events of the fourth night of the RNC kicked off. Professional wrestling fans recognized a couple of familiar faces as wrestling icon Hulk Hogan was at the convention. Additionally, Linda McMahon, who is the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), spoke from the stage, appealing to small business owners and others. McMahon, who is married to former WWE CEO Vince McMahon and served in Trump’s cabinet as the U.S. administrator of the Small Business Administration, spoke of her long friendship with the former president, who appeared in several WWE storylines over the years. “He is a good man. He has the heart of a lion and the soul of a warrior,” Linda McMahon said. “I believe if necessary he would stand at the gates of hell to defend our country.”Hogan and Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White were expected to speak at the event, and musician Kid Rock was also set to perform.NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty was also seen at the convention Thursday.‘Everyday American’ is GOP-backing billionaireOne of the “everyday Americans” speaking on behalf of Trump’s campaign is a former Playboy model who’s been listed among the country’s wealthiest self-made women.Wisconsin native Diane Hendricks told delegates how she started off as a single mom who got into real estate, met her husband and “risked everything we had” to start ABC Supply.Their company is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing supplies and one of the largest distributors of siding and windows in North America, with nearly 700 locations across the U.S. and Canada.Hendricks talked about the tens of thousands of jobs she’s helped create in the U.S. and told aspiring entrepreneurs, “if I can make it, you can make it, too.” She also lauded Trump’s business acumen as what the country needs.She’s been a big backer of GOP candidates both in her home state and elsewhere. Forbes lists her estimated net worth above $20 billion.New York builders attest to Trump personal characterNew York builders father and son Steven and Zach Witkoff were among speakers meant to serve as witnesses for Trump as a friend and employer.The former president’s persona has been well-defined after a term in office and a highly public profile since leaving office.The father and son vouched for Trump as a boss and a grandfather.“I have witnessed his leadership in quiet moments,” Steve Witkoff said. “When times are really tough, when he has everything to lose and nothing to gain, Donald Trump is there for you.”Describing pain that was “unbearable,” Steve Wifcoff told of Trump’s outreach after the man’s son died of an opioid overdose.“That’s who he is,” Steven Witcoff said.RNC speeches open with an appeal to voters in swing statesIn the first speech of the night, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana who is also the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, tried to appeal to voters in states where key Senate races are taking place this year. The GOP has been using the convention to appeal to swing state voters in hopes of retaining control of the House of Representatives and taking back control of the U.S. Senate.Daines attempted to appeal to voters in states like Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Ohio and Montana.Trump says he’s rewritten his remarksRepublicans throughout the week in Milwaukee have suggested the combative former president take a gentler tone in light of the shooting and have suggested the crisis provides a chance to de-escalate the divisive political rhetoric that has marked the 2024 campaign.Trump told the Washington Examiner that he had rewritten his acceptance speech in the wake of the Saturday shooting, emphasizing a call for national unity.“The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,” he said. “Had this not happened, this would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches,” aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden.“Honestly, it’s going to be a whole different speech now,” he said.Any such dialing down by Trump will come before a delegation, many of whom have been moved by Trump’s own defiant words in the grasp of U.S. Secret Service agents Saturday, and have sparked their echo in the form of chants of “fight, fight, fight.”“I do believe that after going through that his message will be better, and I do think he will appeal to our better emotions,” Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Lawrence Tabas said. “He has an enormous compassion and empathy that doesn’t always come through.”Trump’s family will be at RNC, but not everyone will speakUnlike most national conventions, Trump’s wife Melania and daughter Ivanka who both spoke at the previous two conventions are not expected to address the convention but are expected to attend.Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, ended the program Tuesday with a speech about Trump’s personal warmth and love for his family. The final day of the RNC is underwayTrump’s moment of survival has shaped the week, even as convention organizers insisted they would continue with their program as planned less than 48 hours after the shooting. Speakers and delegates have repeatedly chanted “Fight, fight, fight!” in homage to Trump’s words as he got to his feet and pumped his fist after Secret Service agents killed the gunman. And some of his supporters have started sporting their own makeshift bandages on the convention floor.Speakers throughout the week have attributed Trump’s survival to divine intervention and paid tribute to victim Corey Comperatore, who died after shielding his wife and daughter from gunfire at the rally.“Instead of a day of celebration, this could have been a day of heartache and mourning,” Trump’s vice presidential pick, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, said in his speech to the convention on Wednesday. Video below: Vice president nominee JD Vance addresses delegates at RNC  The convention has tried to give voice to the fear and frustration of conservatives while also trying to promote the former president as a symbol of hope for all voters.The convention has showcased a Republican Party reshaped by Trump since he shocked the GOP establishment and won the hearts of the party’s grassroots on his way to the party’s 2016 nomination. Rivals Trump has vanquished — including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — put aside their past criticisms and gave him their unqualified support.Even Vance, Trump’s pick to carry his movement into the next generation, was once a fierce critic who suggested in a private message since made public that Trump could be “America’s Hitler.”  Notable speakers for RNC Day 4:Eric TrumpSen. Steve Daines, chair of the National Republican Senatorial CommitteeRep. Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional CommitteeDiane Hendricks, a billionaire who is the co-founder of ABC SupplyLinda McMahon, the 25th administrator of the Small Business AdministrationFormer Secretary of State Mike PompeoSteve Witkoff, a businessman and developerAlina Habba, Trump’s attorneyTucker CarlsonDana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship

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