Donald Trump was warmly welcomed on Monday as he entered the arena of the Republican National Convention, sporting a bandaged right ear. This marked his first public appearance since a recent incident.
Following his formal nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and the announcement of Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, Trump walked into Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum surrounded by aides.
He waved to supporters on the opening day of what is anticipated to be a celebratory gathering. Trump, set to deliver a formal acceptance speech on Thursday, took his seat amidst applause to the patriotic song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood, visibly moved by the reception from the packed venue.
“It was absolutely amazing. I mean, just thinking what he’s been through, and to come here today because he really cares,” Illinois delegate Susan Sweeney told AFP on the convention floor.
The Republican crowd had another significant moment as they erupted in cheers when Trump announced J.D. Vance, aged 39, as his vice presidential pick. Vance, previously a harsh critic who turned into a staunch supporter, joins Trump’s ticket as the former president aims for a return to the White House amid legal challenges and impeachment controversies from his first term. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden faces declining poll numbers and concerns within the Democratic Party about his health.
Vance, representing a new wave of populism under Trump, is notably one of the least experienced vice presidential selections in recent history.
He aligns closely with Trump’s America First agenda, emphasizing isolationism and strict immigration policies, and holds even more conservative views than Trump on certain issues such as abortion, advocating for federal legislation.
Initially gaining prominence with his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” in 2016, Vance provided a voice for rural, working-class sentiments in America’s heartland. Despite his earlier criticism of Trump, including controversial remarks likening him to “America’s Hitler,” Vance pivoted to gain Trump’s endorsement during his successful 2022 Senate campaign in Ohio, marking a rapid ascent in political circles.
The four-day convention drew around 50,000 Republicans to the shores of Lake Michigan, setting the stage for the upcoming election in four months.
The convention is taking place amidst the aftermath of a failed assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Butler, western Pennsylvania on Saturday. The incident, resulting in one bystander’s death and Trump’s injured ear requiring a bandage, was expected to be a focal point of the event.
Despite facing legal challenges, including a conviction in a hush-money case in New York, Trump remains ahead in several polls and displays confidence in his campaign. Meanwhile, at 81, Biden is confronted with internal calls within his party to step aside due to concerns about his age.
Trump’s campaign criticized the Trump-Vance agenda, alleging it would diminish rights, harm the middle class, and increase living costs while benefiting the wealthy and corporations. Trump mentioned to the New York Post that he had initially prepared a harsh speech criticizing Biden’s administration but opted for a message aimed at national unity.
While some Republicans, including Vance, blamed Democratic rhetoric for the attack, Trump refrained from such rhetoric, aiming for a speech to unify the country.
Despite his diminished stature following the 2020 election and the Capitol riot, Trump has been reshaping Republican politics, consolidating power by appointing loyalists like his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to prominent roles within the Republican National Committee.
On Monday, Trump also celebrated a legal victory as a judge dismissed one of the criminal cases against him, which alleged he mishandled classified documents after leaving office.
