Donald Trump made another triumphant appearance on Tuesday, July 16, at the Republican convention in Milwaukee. Like the day before, his ear still covered with a bandage, the 78-year-old candidate sparked thunderous applause and a standing ovation upon arriving in the immense sports hall that, for four days, hosts the high mass of the Grand Old Party. Without speaking but clearly enjoying the moment, three days after having survived gunfire during a campaign rally, Donald Trump went to sit in the VIP area surrounded by his lieutenants. He took his place next to JD Vance, the atypical senator he chose to second him in the campaign.
From there, seeming less tense than twenty-four hours earlier, he watched with delight a carefully ordered ballet alternating on the podium the figures of the party he defeated in the primaries, first and foremost Nikki Haley. The former governor of South Carolina, who for months warned the country against “the chaos” that a return of Donald Trump to the White House would cause, was clear: “Donald Trump has my firm support, period!” she declared.
Two other former rivals of the billionaire, who have also tried to challenge his grip on the party, with little hope of succeeding, also pledged allegiance. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy praised a smiling Donald Trump, relishing the great display of unity behind him.
The other speakers that evening were anonymous Americans, selected because they had lost a loved one to an illegal immigrant or a fentanyl overdose. They made vibrant calls to oust Joe Biden from the White House, blaming him directly for these tragic deaths.
Trump returns to campaign
Among the thousands of activists who flocked to Milwaukee, the fervor is undiminished. “Trump has a willpower that I have not seen in any other human being. He is fantastic. I think he is protected by our prayers and the love we have for him. And he looks great. He exudes strength,” enthuses Connie Davie, an ardent activist.
Reassured about the unity of the Republican Party and having obtained the full support of the delegates on Monday, Donald Trump announced that he would be campaigning again with a rally on Saturday in the state of Michigan, exactly one week after the shootings that targeted him. In the meantime, he will deliver a speech on Thursday accepting his nomination as the official Republican candidate, during a spectacular party closing the convention.
The former business tycoon also launched this week to win votes outside his party. He invited independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. to drop out of the race and support him against Joe Biden. The anti-vaccine activist – nephew of the assassinated president “JFK” – has however refused to throw in the towel. A video of the conversation between the two men leaked on social networks Tuesday morning. Donald Trump can be heard talking about the shots that targeted him Saturday during his rally in Pennsylvania. It’s like being bitten by “the biggest mosquito in the world!”, he says.