A Shift in Rhetoric: From Unity to Attacks and Grievances
During his speech at the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, former President Donald Trump recounted the harrowing details of the assassination attempt on his life, telling the crowd that he only survived “by the grace of Almighty God.” He described hearing a loud whizzing sound and feeling something strike his right ear before realizing it was a bullet. Despite the harrowing experience, Trump praised the Secret Service and honored the memory of Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter who was killed during the attack.
His speech began with an unusually conciliatory tone, promising to be a president for “all of America” and rejecting division. However, this tone quickly shifted as Trump returned to his familiar attacks on the Biden administration, which he claimed was “destroying” the country. He repeated his false claims about the 2020 election being stolen, described an “invasion” of migrants at the southern border, and predicted that President Biden would lead the U.S. into “World War Three.”
The 90-minute speech, which became the longest convention speech in history, veered away from unity, as Trump once again proclaimed that only he could “save” the country. His remarks were peppered with grievances, and he claimed, “I could stop wars with a telephone call.”
Trump’s appearance at the convention, complete with a dramatic pro-wrestling-inspired entrance, reflected his celebrity status within the Republican Party. The event featured speakers such as UFC CEO Dana White, musician Kid Rock, and pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, who revved up the crowd by tearing his shirt to reveal a Trump campaign T-shirt.
As Trump celebrated his nomination, his opponent, President Joe Biden, was reportedly “soul searching” after concerns raised by party officials and donors about his ability to win re-election following a lackluster debate performance in June.
