As he basked in the grandeur of the Republican National Convention’s final night, Donald Trump’s bandaged ear starkly highlighted his remarkable ability to transform adversity into triumph.
Multiple speakers in Milwaukee suggested that divine intervention had spared him from a recent assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, with the crowd erupting as Trump declared: “I had God on my side.”
The evening was rich with religious references, beginning with TV evangelist Franklin Graham, who infused Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan into his prayer.
An attendee with a USA flag patch on his ear prays during Franklin Graham’s sermon on the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 18, 2024. — AFP
Trump himself exuded a more grandfatherly presence than a messianic one, vowing to usher in a new era of safety, prosperity, and freedom for people of all races, religions, and creeds. He emphasized the need to heal societal discord and division.
The recent shooting in Pennsylvania seemed to humanize Trump, contrasting with expectations of a fiery response. In his first public remarks following the attack, he said, “I am running to be president for all of America, not just half of it, because there is no victory in winning for half of America.”
Throughout the week, Trump kept his extended family close. On Thursday, he shared the spotlight with his daughter Ivanka and wife Melania, who had been absent from the campaign. The former first couple, along with Trump’s new running mate J.D. Vance and son Donald Trump Jr., joined Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, along with Trump’s younger daughter Tiffany, on stage to a warm reception as thousands of balloons descended from the ceiling.
While Trump’s rallies typically feature personal attacks on Joe Biden and dire predictions about the country’s future, this speech blended these themes with a more unifying tone. Despite planning a conciliatory address in light of the recent shooting, Trump’s second son Eric delivered one of the night’s most divisive speeches, listing grievances against his father’s opponents and leading the crowd in chants of “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
Trump himself echoed these sentiments, returning to his familiar campaign themes of accusing Democrats of undermining democracy and pursuing him with a corrupt “witch hunt,” though the initial tone of his address was more conciliatory.
The night was also marked by dramatic moments, including a performance by celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan, who led chants of “USA! USA!” and cheered on Trump in a “Trump Vance” shirt, earning loud applause from the audience.
Hogan’s exuberant endorsement, declaring Trump as a hero and “that gladiator” destined to fix the country, left Trump visibly pleased. “I think he’s great. I think he was probably more subdued after his injury,” said Rachel Hale, 43, who traveled from Texas to hear Trump speak. “And I think you realize, especially when you’re facing life and death in a blink of an eye, what is important. And America is important, and it’s worth saving.”
