Bandaged Trump makes RNC appearance two days after shooting

Two days aft surviving an attempted assassination, erstwhile President Donald Trump appeared triumphantly astatine nan Republican National Convention’s opening nighttime pinch a bandage complete his correct ear, nan latest compelling segment successful a statesmanlike run already defined by melodramatic turns.

GOP delegates shouted wildly erstwhile Trump appeared onscreen backstage and past emerged successful nan arena, visibly emotional, arsenic musician Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless nan USA.” That was hours aft nan normal had formally nominated nan erstwhile president to caput nan Republican summons successful November against President Joe Biden.

The normal resumes Tuesday, erstwhile nan attraction shifts to immigration, an rumor cardinal to Trump’s governmental marque that helped endear him to nan GOP guidelines erstwhile he began his first run successful 2015.

Trump, accompanied by a wall of Secret Service agents Monday, did not reside nan hallway — pinch his acceptance reside scheduled for Thursday — but smiled silently and occasionally waved arsenic Greenwood sang. He yet joined his recently announced moving mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, to perceive to nan night’s remaining speeches, often pinch a subdued look and muted reactions uncharacteristic for nan unabashed showman.

The raucous invited underscored nan extent of nan crowd’s affection for nan man who won nan 2016 information arsenic an outsider, astatine likelihood pinch nan statement establishment, but has vanquished each Republican rivals, silenced astir blimpish critics and now commands loyalty up and down nan statement ranks.

“We must merge arsenic a party, and we must merge arsenic a nation,” said Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley, Trump’s handpicked statement leader, arsenic he opened Monday’s prime-time nationalist normal session. “We must show nan aforesaid spot and resilience arsenic President Trump and lead this federation to a greater future.”

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But Whatley and different Republican leaders made clear that their calls for harmony did not widen to Biden and Democrats, who find themselves still riven by worries that nan 81-year-old mobility is not up to nan occupation of defeating Trump.

“Their policies are a clear and coming threat to America, to our institutions, our values and our people,” said Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, welcoming nan statement to his battleground state, which Trump won successful 2016 but mislaid to Biden 4 years ago.

Trump’s run chiefs designed nan normal to characteristic a softer and much optimistic message, focusing connected themes that would thief a divisive leader grow his entreaty among mean voters and group of color.

On Monday, a nighttime devoted to nan economy, delegates and a nationalist TV assemblage heard from speakers nan Trump run sounded arsenic “everyday Americans” — a azygous mother talking astir inflation, a national personnel who identified himself arsenic a lifelong Democrat now backing Trump, a mini business owner, among others.

Featured speakers besides included Black Republicans who person been astatine nan forefront of nan Trump campaign’s effort to triumph much votes from a halfway Democratic constituency.

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas said rising market and power prices were hurting Americans’ wallets.

“We tin hole this disaster,” Hunt said, by electing Trump and sending “him correct backmost to wherever he belongs, nan White House.”