Trump had the opportunity of all time to give a speech that will go down in the history books, but he completely rejected it, writes ‘s U.S. editor Juri von Bonsdorff.
Juri von Bonsdorff ‘s US editor
The Republican convention in Milwaukee was reaching its climax on Thursday evening.
The uplifting video had ended with close-ups Donald Trump’s from the bloody face and the fist pointing towards the sky, calling for a fight.
Behind the rising curtain, “Trump” written in illuminated giant letters and the former president standing in front of them as a statue were revealed.
It was familiar and guaranteed and Trump—beyond obscenity.
But after that, the hall fell silent to listen to a man who only five days earlier was a hair’s breadth away from death.
– I shouldn’t be here today, Trump said to the audience, who listened to the description of Saturday’s events in a mouse-quiet manner.
– I’m only going to tell you this once because it’s too painful.
Trump recounted in a low voice how he heard the shots and felt pain in his ear.
Trump showed a humble and grateful side of himself.
He knew immediately that he had been shot. He threw himself to the ground as bullets whistled across the stage.
His hand was covered in blood.
When he was lifted up, he wanted to show his worried supporters that everything was fine. He raised his fist in the air.
Like Trump or not, this part of the speech was powerful and empathetic.
Trump showed a humble and grateful side of himself.
– It is thanks to God that I am here, he said.
Trump had reached a crossroads in his speech.
He could have gone on for a while explaining the political goals of the Republicans and then focused on how to unite a divided nation.
He now had the nation’s attention.
If he had chosen that path, the speech would have long been hailed as a combination of a unique story of survival and concern for the state of the nation.
He would have gathered sympathy not only from his own supporters but also from other voters. Trump is a hated man in many homes, but on the other hand, he is also a fellow human being.
But Trump took a different tack.
The dramatic return had turned into an everyday stream of complaints.
He set off on an incredibly long and sprawling journey that dealt with all the political issues of the world. Intensity disappeared and the atmosphere calmed down.
He insulted Nancy Pelosibarked Joe Bidenreminded me of the China virus and unfounded accusations of election fraud.
He repeated his unrealistic promises to end the Russian war of aggression and the Gaza conflict in a heartbeat.
Trump’s dramatic return had turned into an everyday and all-too-familiar stream of Trump complaints.
An hour and a half of pacing had killed all the magic of the speech. Along with that came the opportunity to do something to unite the nation.
Trump may well become the president of the United States again, but he missed his chance to earn new respect among his political enemies.