Former President Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican nomination for president for a third time on Thursday and thanked Americans for their support after he was injured and a man died in an assassination attempt at the former president’s campaign rally last week.
Trump vowed that “our resolve is unbroken” as he reflected on the shooting and called on Americans to unify after the attack.
“I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America,” Trump said in the beginning of his acceptance speech.
Still, Trump took time to lay out his conservative vision for the country and criticize his Democratic rivals, knocking President Joe Biden’s handling of the issues facing the nation. He also said Democrats should stop “weaponizing the justice system,” though there is no evidence that Democratic officials have affected the criminal charges the former president is facing.
Some of Trump’s most vocal allies took the stage on Thursday, from conservative commentator Tucker Carlson to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his son Eric Trump. Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan called the GOP nominee his “hero,” and UFC President Dana White introduced Trump ahead of his acceptance speech.
Catch up with live updates from the USA TODAY Network:
Donald Trump says Americans should start ‘demanding’ best leadership in the world
Trump during his speech laid out key goals for a second presidency, saying that Americans should demand the best leadership in the world.
“For too long, our nation has settled for too little. We’ve given everything to other nations, to other people,” Trump said. “You have been told to lower your expectations and to accept less for your families.” “I am here tonight with the opposite message: Your expectations are not big enough,” he continued. “It is time to start expecting and demanding the best leadership in the world, leadership that is bold, dynamic, relentless, and fearless. We can do that.”
Crowd becomes restless as Trump speech veers off into tangents
The crowd was pumped up when Trump came on stage after appearances by celebrities like Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock.
But what started as a contemplative speech has become somewhat rambling, with Trump veering off on tangents. He’s still eliciting laughs, but the crowd seems less engaged – several are looking at their phones, some are beginning to leave and chants are far less frequent.
In the Michigan delegation, one delegate had to remind Republicans from the state to “go nuts” for the Trump’s promise to save the auto industry. In the Minnesota section, a delegate left saying “we can watch the stupid balloons on TV.”
Donald Trump lays out his pitch on border, foreign policy in acceptance speech
Donald Trump’s speech focused heavily on immigration, and the former president said he would re-implement several of his hardline border policies from his first term in office. Trump, who used dehumanizing language towards migrants, praised the GOP for codifying his campaign promise to “launch the largest deportation operation” in U.S. history.
On Day One, he said his administration will do two things: “Drill, baby, drill” and close the U.S.-Mexico border to immigrants.
Trump made promises on a wide range of issues, saying he wants to provide additional resources to the U.S. military, address crime across cities and find cures for a variety of diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. He also criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, claiming without evidence that he could “stop wars with a telephone call.”
Donald Trump addresses Pennsylvania shooting in remarks
For the first time since the assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally, Trump addressed the shooting in person. He told convention attendees that they will never hear about the attack from him again because “it’s too painful to tell.”
He said that as he was discussing immigration that day, he turned his head slightly to see a chart of border crossings under his leadership when he heard a “loud whizzing sound” and he felt something hit him “really really hard.”
“I said to myself ‘Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet’ and moved my right hand to my ear, brought it down,” he said. “My hand was covered with blood, just absolutely blood all over the place.”
He praised the Secret Service agents who pulled him from the stage shortly after the gunman opened fire, saying that they were “very brave.”
“Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and they really did – they rushed to the stage,” Trump said. “These are great people at great risk, I will tell you. They pounced on top of me so that I would be protected. There was blood pouring everywhere and yet in a certain way I felt very safe because I had God on my side.”
Some lawmakers have been critical of the Secret Service agents’ actions that day, but Trump repeatedly praised them in his speech.
Donald Trump honors firefighter killed at rally
Donald Trump during his acceptance speech honored Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who was killed at his rally in Pennsylvania after a gunman opened fire.
“He was incredible. He was a highly respected former fire chief – respected by everybody – was accompanied by his wife Helen. Incredible woman I spoke to today, devastated, and two precious daughters. He lost his life selflessly acting as a human shield to protect them from flying bullets. He went right over the top of them and was hit. What a fine man he was.”
A firefighter uniform that belonged to Comperatore appeared on stage with Trump. The former president also kissed Comperatore’s helmet and called for a moment of silence for the Pennsylvania man.
Donald Trump formally accepts GOP nomination
Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican presidential nomination Thursday, on the final day of the GOP convention.
“I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America,” Trump said in the beginning of his acceptance speech.
Unity was a leading theme in Trump’s address, rewritten in the wake of the assassination attempt against him over the weekend.
Donald Trump walks onto convention stage alongside Corey Comperatore jacket, helmet
Donald Trump walked onto the convention stage with his last name in lights behind him. He also walked alongside a helmet and firefighter jacket that belonged to Corey Comperatore, the man who was killed in the shooting at the former president’s rally on Saturday.
UFC President Dana White introduces Donald Trump
UFC President Dana White described his 25-year relationship with Donald Trump as he introduced the former president, saying “I know he wants what’s best for the American people. All American people.”
Kid Rock calls on convention attendees to ‘fight’
Kid Rock performed on the convention stage on Thursday, encouraging Republicans in attendance to “fight.”
It’s a clear reference to Donald Trump’s reaction after the attack on his weekend campaign rally, when he told his supporters to “fight” after a gunman fired on the event.
Melania Trump enters convention floor
Former first lady Melania Trump entered the convention floor wearing a red suit as a Beethoven symphony played.
Eric Trump slams Democrats, touts father’s achievements
Eric Trump, son of Donald Trump, praised his father’s achievements in a spirited speech to convention attendees, hitting on issues including the economy, foreign policy, immigration and other hot-button debates.
“My father stands before you with the boost growth of any Republican candidate in the history of our nation,” Eric Trump said. “He has defied the predictions of every political pundit. He fills stadiums across our country. He energizes Americans to the issues facing this nation and does so with unvarnished honesty.”
“He is not a threat to democracy. He is a threat to those who despise our republic, many of whom are bought and sold,” he added.
Eric Trump also took a swipe at Democrats, alleging that they “tried everything to keep him from you, everything to destroy his legacy, to destroy his family.”
“They have failed and they will not win,” he said.
Wrestler Hulk Hogan: ‘Let Trumpamania make America great again’
Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan has one message for you, brother: Make America Great Again. Hogan brought the theatrics of the World Wrestling Entertainment to the RNC on Thursday by rushing on stage with an American flag before he gave his full backing to Trump.
“Well, let me tell you something brother,” Hogan said, referencing the wrestlers’ iconic phrase, before comparing the energy in the room as how it felt at a Madison Square Garden event. Hogan said he came out to support Trump after the attempted assassination of the former president.
“As an entertainer, I’m trying to stay out of politics,” said Hogan, whose government name is Terry Bollea. “But after everything that’s happened to our country over the past four years, and everything that happened last weekend. I can no longer say silent.”
Hogan, who is in the WWE Hall of Fame like Trump, said the greatest tag team of his lifetime wasn’t between him and Randy Savage, another top professional wrestler, but between Trump and the United States.
During his speech, Hogan ripped off his blazer and a black t-shirt that said “Real Americans” to unveil a red tank top with Trump and Vance’s names on it.
“Let Trumpamania make America great again,” Hogan said, a play on WWE’s top live event, Wrestlemania. Hogan, whose followers were called Hulkamaniacs, referenced Trump’s supporters as “Trumpamaniacs.”
What are you going to do when Donald Trump and all the Trumpamaniacs run wild on you, brother?” Hogan said.
Religious leader Franklin Graham praises God for Trump’s survival after assassination attempt
Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said God “spared” Trump over the weekend against an attempted assassination.
“I cannot explain why God would save one life and allow another one to be taken. I don’t have the answer for that,” the reverend said, referring to firefighter Corey Comperatore who was killed in the attack at Trump’s Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.
Multiple speakers have made divine allusions to explain Trump’s survival over the weekend. Some have mentioned Comperatore as well.
Graham included the Comperatore family in his prayer at the conclusion of his address.
Donald Trump reenters the convention floor alongside his family
Donald Trump reentered the convention floor surrounded by his children and grandchildren, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who had not attended prior RNC events.
Real estate baron Steven Witkoff uses RNC speech to humanize Trump, recall son who overdosed
Real estate baron Steven Witkoff spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday to highlight former President Donald Trump’s integrity and empathy that people don’t see on TV.
Steven was introduced by his son Zach Witkoff, who said his father shares the same “hard work, unwavering loyalty and perseverance” as the GOP presidential nominee.
“An American Trilogy” by Elvis Presley played as Steven took the podium arguing that the song captures who Trump is as a person, emphasizing the lyrics “his truth is marching on.” The business owner opened up about how Trump was there for him after his son, Andrew, died after an opioid overdose.
Tucker Carlson praises Donald Trump’s leadership in wake of shooting
Former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson took the stage Thursday and addressed the attempted assassination against Donald Trump looming over this week’s convention.
“Everything was different after that moment,” Carlson said. “Everything: this convention is different, the nation is different, the world is different, Donald Trump is different.”
The TV personality said Trump not being severely wounded in the stunning attack was “divine intervention” and claimed the attempt transformed Trump.
“I think it changed him,” Carlson said, noting that he reached out to the former president in the wake of the shooting.
Trump lawyer Alina Habba rails against indictments
Alina Habba, one of Trump’s lawyers, criticized the criminal indictments against him in her remarks to convention attendees, alleging that the charges have been politicized.
“Every attack on President Trump only strengthens our movement,” she said.
There is no evidence that the officials pursuing or overseeing charges against Trump have targeted his reelection bid.
Country music star Jason Aldean joins Donald Trump at RNC
Country music singer Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany Kerr, appeared next to Trump in the MAGA friends and family box on the final night of the convention.
Aldean defended Trump on social media earlier this year, after the former president was convicted on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial.
And the Aldeans’ ties to Trump go back years; the couple attended his Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve party in 2022.
Detroit pastor lauds Trump
Lorenzo Sewell, an “everyday American” and pastor in Detroit, praised Trump for visiting a Detroit church to woo Black voters on his birthday in June.
“Let me ask you a question, Grand Old Party. What would you do for your birthday if you were worth $6.7 billion? What would you do for your birthday? Would you come to Detroit? Would you come into the Hood Hood? He came to the hood because he cares about average everyday Americans.”
Sewell, whose speech earned applause and cheers, added that there was a “miracle by a millimeter” last Saturday, when Trump was injured in an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
“You cannot deny that it was a millimeter miracle that was able to save this man’s life. Could it be that Jesus Christ preserved him for such a time as this?” he said.
Mike Pompeo knocks Biden over Israel, Afghanistan
Mike Pompeo, former secretary of state, took the stage Thursday and argued the country was safer under Donald Trump’s administration.
“In short, we put America first every single day,” Pompeo told the crowd, adding, “42 months on, what has Joe Biden and Kamala Harris done?”
Pompeo slammed the current administration over Biden’s current handling of the Israel-Hamas War and retreat from Afghanistan in August 2021.
“Ladies and gentleman, President Biden sold out our citizens and our security and our sovereignty, and we need to get it back and I am confident that we will get it back,” Pompeo said.
Donald Trump enters convention floor ahead of acceptance speech
Donald Trump has entered the convention floor before he formally accepts the Republican nomination. He was again wearing a bandage over his right ear after he was injured in an assassination attempt.
When the organizers went looking for what they called “everyday Americans” to speak during the last night of the 2024 Republican National Convention, they didn’t have to look far. They just hit the links.
Two of the speakers Thursday night, the final night of the RNC in Milwaukee, work at Trump golf properties. John Nieporte is the head golf pro at Trump International in West Palm Beach, and Carrie Ruiz is the golf general manager at Trump National Doral in Miami. But who better to talk about him?
At RNC, Republicans see an opportunity to win over voters of color and young voters
They gathered for the Republican National Convention to make Donald Trump their presidential nominee under the banner of “Make America Great Once Again” — a riff on the nostalgic slogan the former president used in his winning 2016 campaign.
But as Republicans hope to deliver another Trump victory, they rallied behind an unofficial theme as they look towards their party’s future: realignment.
The Republican National Convention’s speaker lineup highlights the party’s attempts at racial diversity, and at events throughout the week, GOP stalwarts celebrated what they see as the shifting demographics of their party’s coalition.
