Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump showed up triumphantly at the Republican National Convention’s opening night with a bandage over his right ear two days after surviving an attempted assassination, marking another dramatic turn in a campaign that is already occupied with high-stakes moments.
Republican delegates appeared joyfully when Trump appeared onscreen backstage and then emerged in the arena, visibly emotional, as Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the USA.” This happened some hours after the convention formally nominated Trump to lead the Republican ticket in November against incumbent President Joe Biden.
The former president did not address the audience with his acceptance speech scheduled for Thursday, but smiled and occasionally waved as Greenwood sang. He later joined his newly announced running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, to listen to the night’s remaining speeches, often displaying a subdued expression and muted reactions, unusual for the typically flamboyant showman.
The shouting welcome showed the deep affection that the crowd holds for Donald Trump, who won the 2016 nomination as an outsider challenging the party establishment. He has since defeated most conservative critics and received loyalty throughout the party structure.
Whatley and other Republican leaders emphasized unity within the party but started clearly saying that this call for harmony did not extend to Biden and the Democrats, who are still grappling with concerns about the 81-year-old president’s ability to emerge victorious against Trump.
The attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally, where Trump was injured in his ear and a man died, loomed in the background, but the proceedings at the convention were celebratory, contrasting sharply against the previous days’ anger and anxiety. Some delegates chanted “fight, fight, fight”—echoing Trump’s words to the crowd on Saturday as the Secret Service took him offstage, his fist raised and face bloodied.
As “Celebration” played and delegates danced and waved Trump signs, when Trump secured the necessary number of delegates, video screens in the arena displayed “OVER THE TOP.” Throughout the voting, delegates holding “Make America Great Again” signs applauded as state after state pledged their support for the former president’s second run.
Several speakers invoked religious imagery when discussing Trump and the assassination attempt.
Wyoming delegate Sheryl Foland was among those who adopted the “fight” chant after witnessing Trump survive the assassination on Saturday, calling the images and videos “monumental.”
A federal judge presiding over Trump’s classified documents case dismissed the prosecution due to concerns over the prosecutor’s appointment, handing Trump a significant legal victory, which added to the positive mood of those on the convention floor.
