messianic narrative, anti-migrant wall and drilling “at all costs” – L’Express

After the notable appearance yesterday by his running mate and candidate for the American vice-presidency, JD Vance, it was Donald Trump’s turn to speak on the last day of the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee (Wisconsin). On Thursday, July 18, the former American president made his grand return in front of the cameras, just five days after being the target of an assassination attempt during a campaign rally.

With a clearly visible bandage on his right ear, the septuagenarian returned to the stage not only as a miraculous survivor of the bullets, but above all as the undisputed big boss of the American right. He gave a crucial 90-minute speech, supposed to put him on the direct path to reconquering the White House.

An undisputed anti-Biden champion

To do this, he first donned his costume as Republican champion. On stage in Milwaukee, Donald Trump “proudly” officially accepted the Republican Party’s nomination for the November presidential election. “With faith and dedication,” the former president predicted “an incredible victory,” promising “the four greatest years in the history” of the United States if he regains the White House.

After a carefully regulated ballet alternating between the party figures he defeated in the primaries, Donald Trump’s candidacy seems increasingly uncontested. This contrasts sharply with that of the outgoing Democratic president, Joe Biden.

Donald Trump obviously took advantage of his speech to criticize his opponent. Although the real estate mogul called on Thursday not to “criminalize opposition or demonize political disagreements,” demanding that Democrats “immediately” stop calling him “an enemy of democracy,” he was quick to turn the accusation around, saying that his political opponents are “destroying our country.”

Anti-migrant wall and drilling “at all costs”

Donald Trump has once again hammered home his campaign themes, first denouncing the inflation of recent years in the United States and the arrival of migrants at the border. He thus promised to finish the construction of the anti-migrant wall on the border of the United States with Mexico, and to “close the border” from the first day of his term.

The conservative also reiterated his desire to promote oil exploitation in the United States, vowing to “drill like crazy” as soon as he comes to power. In the event of victory, he also wants to redirect all the funds allocated to the ambitious environmental measures decided by Joe Biden, which he describes as a “green scam”. Similarly, Donald Trump attacked the international stance of his Democratic opponent, believing that his “adversaries inherited a world at peace and transformed it into a planet at war”, referring to Israel and Ukraine.

The former Republican president, however, sought to appear unifying, promising to run “to be the president of all of America, not half of it.” He portrayed himself as a leader of international stature, capable of ending conflicts in the world “with a phone call.” He notably recalled his understanding with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, promising that his return to power would mean an end to North Korean missile launches: “I think he misses me, if you must know.”

Messianic story of a miracle worker

Above all, Donald Trump gave a detailed account of the assassination attempt he was the victim of last week. Stating that he would only recount this episode once, judging it “too painful”, the septuagenarian began by describing his entrance on stage on Saturday, in Butler (Pennsylvania), noting the “enthusiastic crowd” during the first ten minutes of his speech. Until he heard “a big whistle” and felt “something hit me very, very hard in my right ear”.

Despite the blood that was “flowing everywhere,” Donald Trump said he felt “safe, because I had God on my side.” Enough to position himself as an American messiah: affirming that “the assassin’s bullet was a hair’s breadth away from [lui] “take life,” the former president said he was “not supposed to be here tonight” and that he owed his salvation “solely to the grace of Almighty God.”

He also dwelt on the historic image of his evacuation from the rally stage, his fist raised and his cheek bloodied: “The spectators were disoriented because they thought I was dead […] I wanted to do something to let them know that I was okay.” An image that has become a political asset and that the Republican convention has continued to highlight, illustrating according to the Republicans the courage of a man who is being tried to be brought down, saved by divine intervention and who never gives up.

After a minute of silence dedicated to the firefighter killed Saturday by a bullet aimed at him, Donald Trump said he was “more determined than ever”. The Republican candidate for the White House plans to resume his campaign on Saturday at a new rally in the state of Michigan.