Former U.S. President Donald Trump officially accepted the Republican Party nomination and declared his third presidential bid ahead of the November election. This week's Republican National Convention, held shortly after he survived an assassination attempt, was widely regarded as a 'Trump coronation.'
On the final night of the Republican National Convention, the 18th (local time), Trump delivered his acceptance speech at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, announcing his candidacy. He said, "We will either rise together or fall together," adding, "I am running to be the president of all America. Not half of America. Being the president of half of America is not a victory."
The speech marked a significant moment as Trump was officially nominated as the Republican presidential candidate, launching his third bid for the presidency. Notably, it was also his first public address since being shot during a campaign event in Pennsylvania on the 13th.
Standing at the podium, Trump drew attention by appearing alongside the firefighter jacket worn by Corey Compertatore, a victim of the shooting who served as a volunteer fire chief. During the speech, he kissed a helmet in tribute. This gesture was interpreted as part of an effort to emphasize 'unity' in the United States following the shooting incident. Originally, the acceptance speech was to focus on criticism of President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party, but it was scrapped after the shooting and rewritten to center on American 'unity.' Trump raised his voice, saying, "Discord and division in American society must be healed."
Despite suffering an unexpected gunshot wound, Trump showed resilience by attending the convention for four consecutive days with a bandage on his ear. This contrasts with his rival, President Biden, who, facing pressure to resign due to age concerns, resumed campaigning only to test positive for COVID-19 again and enter isolation.
Polls conducted after the shooting incident indicate that Trump's lead has widened. According to a poll released on the 18th by CBS News and YouGov, conducted from the 16th to the 18th, Trump’s approval rating stood at 52%, five percentage points ahead of Biden’s 47%. This expands on the previous poll from the 3rd, where Trump led Biden by 2 percentage points within the margin of error. In key battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan, Trump led with 51% compared to Biden’s 48%. Additionally, 26% of respondents said they began supporting Trump after the shooting incident.
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