Former President Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination for this year's election and said during the last night of the Republican National Convention that he will usher in a "new era" of "safety, prosperity and freedom" that will "never let down" his constituents.
"I stand before you this evening with a message of confidence, strength and hope," Trump said during his hour and 40-minute speech. "Four months from now, we will have an incredible victory and we will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country."
Trump said the division within our society must be healed "quickly," and that he is "more determined than ever" to make that happen.
"In an age when our politics divide us, now is a time to remember we are all citizens. We are one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all."
"We are bound together by a single faith and a shared destiny," Trump said. "We rise together, or we fall apart. I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America."
Trump said he is the one working to save democracy and that the Democrats need to stop fighting against him.
"If Democrats want to unify our country, they should drop these charges which I've been going through for approximately eight years," Trump said. "They should do that without delay and allow for an election that's worthy of our people."
He also added that JD Vance is "going to be a great vice president."
"I'm thrilled to have a new partner by my side," Trump said. "JD you're going to be doing this for a long time, enjoy the ride."
One of the recent divisions happened to Trump on Saturday. He spoke at the convention of the bullet that came "inches of taking my life."
"It's actually too painful to tell," Trump said. "None of us know God's plan or where He will take us... Every single moment we have on earth is a gift from God. We have to make the most every day for the people and for the country that we love"
Minutes into Donald Trump's speech at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, loud popping noises were heard as people huddled for safety. Trump appeared to clutch his ear and fell to the ground. When he stood back up, surrounded by Secret Service agents, as blood was seen running down his face.
"I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard on my right ear," Trump said. "I said to myself 'wow what is that? It can only be a bullet.'"
Images of the attack were shown behind Trump on the screens.
The shooting is officially being investigated as an attempted assassination. A poster with imagery of the shooter, Thomas Crooks, was seen outside of the RNC in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
"I had God on my side," Trump said. "If I had not moved my head at that very instant, the assassin's bullet would have hit its mark, and I would not be here tonight. We would not be here together."
Corey Comperatore, a former volunteer fire chief from Pennsylvania, was identified as the victim in the shooting incident at a rally for former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for others," Trump said. "This is love that will lead America back to the summit of human achievement and greatness. It's what we need."
Also injured in the shooting were 57-year-old David Dutch, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Trump shared that the "warriors" are "going to be ok."
Trump said all three victim's names on stage Thursday at the convention and also shared that he spoke with their families. Comperatore's uniform was on stage with Trump. He said they have raised $6.3 million, including a $1 million check Trump showed at the convention.
Despite the shooting, Trump has been seen at the RNC each day leading up to his speech tonight. The former president said he was 'not supposed to be here tonight," which was received by chants from the crowd of "yes you are."
Ear bandages similar to the one Trump is wearing after he was nearly assassinated on Saturday have become a popular accessory amongst RNC delegates.
"I'm here tonight to layout a vision for the whole nation," Trump said. "I extend to you a hand of loyalty and friendship. Together, we will lead America to new heights that the world has never seen before."
The former president called the nation in "decline" under President Joe Biden. Trump noted the inflation rates are "crushing" people. He also called the immigration "crisis" an issue that has spread disease, poverty and crime throughout the nation. Trump showed the chart that he was going to at the Butler rally on Saturday.
"The damage that he's done in this country is unthinkable," Trump said. "In less than four years, our opponents have turned our incredible success to unparrallel tragedy and failure."
Trump also pointed to Russia's invasions as well as the war in the Middle East that took place during Biden's term. Trump also spoke about the attacks on Kabul in 2021. Yesterday at the convention, Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Marine Sg. Nicole Gee, talked about the 13 U.S. troops killed in an ISIS-K attack on Kabul in 2021 amid the U.S. departure from Afghanistan.
"While Joe Biden has refused to recognize their sacrifice, Donald Trump spent six hours in Bedminster with us," Shamblin said. "He allowed us to grieve. He allowed us to remember our heroes."
Trump noted his accomplishments during his first term as president, such as beating China "by leaps and bounds" as well as closing the border. Trump has a "series of promises" he plans to fulfill "when you give us control of the House."
"It can't come fast enough," Trump said. "We have to get it done"
He spoke of ending tariffs, lowering other taxes and ensuring jobs stay in the country. On day one of his presidency, Trump said he will commit to "drill, baby, drill" and "close our borders."
Trump promised to conduct the largest "deportation operation in the history of our country." He also believed he could be the "right leader" who can make progress toward scientific breakthroughs with cancer.
"With proper leadership, every disaster we are facing will be fixed and it will be fixed very, very quickly," Trump said. "We will do it at levels that nobody's ever seen before... We'll start paying off debt and lowering taxes."
Check out Newsweek's live coverage of the RNC Day 4 here.
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About the writer
Monica is a Newsweek reporter based in Boston. Her focus is reporting on breaking news. Monica joined Newsweek in 2024. ... Read more
