"Trump's emotional entrance was a fitting climax to surviving a life-threatening situation and achieving a decisive victory. (The Washington Post (WP))"
"As the entrance music played, the crowd shouted 'USA' and 'We love Trump.' (CNN broadcast)"
On the night of the 15th (local time), former U.S. President Donald Trump, who was shot during a campaign rally, appeared at the Republican National Convention with a bandage on his ear, prompting the gathered party members to cheer in unison. The atmosphere resembled the excitement of a rock star appearing on stage at a concert.
According to local media reports, former President Trump attended the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the first day of the Republican National Convention. This was his first official appearance two days after being shot during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on the 13th. A large gauze bandage covered his right ear, which had been grazed by a bullet.
As he appeared, the venue was filled with the song "God Bless the USA," which Trump usually uses as his entrance music during rallies. Former President Trump smiled broadly as he watched the standing ovation from party members. He then raised his fist and applauded the crowd. Instead of the stage, he headed to a specially prepared VIP box seat, accompanied closely by a dense security detail.
Afterward, he went up to the box seat marked with his campaign slogan 'MAGA (Make America Great Again),' shaking hands with his son Donald Trump Jr. and Republican lawmakers, and took a seat next to Senator J.D. Vance, who was announced as his running mate. Throughout his walk, the venue continued with standing ovations and cheers.
AP News reported it as "Trump's spectacular entrance amid tremendous applause." The New York Times (NYT) said, "After the entrance music ended, the crowd filled the silence. Republican voters shouted 'Fight,' calling it a 'rallying cry.'" CNN reported, "The audience was boiling with cheers."
WP analyzed that "From the first TV presidential debate last month, which highlighted calls for President Joe Biden's resignation, over about two and a half weeks, former President Trump has achieved major victories," and that his appearance today, showing resilience after the attack, was a "climax." On the same day, a lawsuit against Trump for illegally possessing classified defense documents secured during his term was dismissed, partially easing his judicial risks.
During the event, when the host said "He will be the next president," former President Trump showed an emotional expression. Even after the next speaker appeared, cheers for Trump continued, causing a delay in the speech for a while.
Former President Trump's attendance at the convention, just two days after the shooting, not only publicly demonstrated his resilience to supporters but also held significance in showing him standing side by side with Senator Vance after the latter's confirmation as the vice-presidential candidate. Typically, presidential candidates attend the convention on the third day, but Trump has broken this convention. He also attended the entire four days of the convention in 2016.
Among Republican party members, confidence in winning the presidency is already confirmed. Rick Leach, a delegate from Florida, told WP, "He is very lucky. I think there is some intervention from above," adding, "You can feel the momentum building every day." WP conveyed the atmosphere, saying, "At this moment, Trump's return to the White House looks closer than ever." As expected, the Republican Party's unity has strengthened further after the shooting incident.
Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia, who was once mentioned as a potential running mate for Trump, said in his speech, "God protected former President Trump," and expressed hope that "an incredible economy that lifts all Americans" would become a reality. Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota, previously described the world as having "changed" following the shooting and called Trump a "fighter." The most unusual speaker of the day was Sean O'Brien, president of the Teamsters union. He said he was the first Teamsters president to speak at a Republican National Convention and described Trump as a "strong man." However, he also added that the Republican Party needs to be less hostile toward labor unions.
Appearing near the end of the convention and staying for about 50 minutes, former President Trump shook hands with attendees after the event and left the venue. Officially nominated as the party's presidential candidate during the delegate roll call vote that day, former President Trump is scheduled to deliver his acceptance speech on the final day of the convention, the 18th, where he will present his vision for governance if elected. Originally, the speech was drafted mainly to criticize President Joe Biden's policies, but Trump confirmed in an interview released the day before that it was completely rewritten after the shooting on the 13th.
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