Republican Leaders Rally Behind Trump After Assassination Attempt in Display of Party Unity
At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, former rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis offered full-throated endorsements of Donald Trump, signaling a remarkable show of unity within the party. The two Republican leaders, who had once criticized Trump during the primaries, praised his leadership and urged their supporters to back him in the upcoming election against President Joe Biden.
On July 16, Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and ex-UN ambassador, addressed the convention, telling her audience that voting for Trump was crucial for the future of the nation, even if they didn’t agree with him all the time. “Take it from me,” she said, emphasizing that voting for Trump was essential despite past differences. Her remarks were met with both applause and boos, highlighting the division within the party but also her commitment to party unity.
Similarly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who had initially run a campaign to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination, attacked President Biden as too old for office. DeSantis received a warm welcome from the crowd, reinforcing the party’s collective push against the current administration.
Trump, still recovering from the assassination attempt on July 13, watched the proceedings from his box in the arena, with his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, by his side. Vance, who had been a fierce critic of Trump in the past, has since become one of the former president’s most staunch supporters. He was set to headline the third night of the convention.
The event presented a stark contrast to the current state of the Democratic Party, where tensions have flared over Biden’s potential re-election bid. While the Republicans showcased unity, Democrats have been grappling with internal discord, especially after Biden’s shaky debate performance in late June.
Throughout the convention, speakers focused heavily on themes of law and order, criticizing Biden’s immigration policies, with many referring to the flow of migrants as an “invasion.” Republican senators Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton, along with candidates Kari Lake and Bernie Moreno, echoed Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, accusing Biden of contributing to a crisis at the southern border.
In addition, several speakers pointed fingers at Democrats over issues like drug-related deaths, with one mother blaming Biden’s policies for her son’s death from fentanyl poisoning. Trump, who has made immigration a central issue in his campaign, continued to demonize migrants as violent criminals, despite studies showing that immigrants are not more likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans. His pledge to carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history remains a key part of his platform.
