The 2024 Republican National Convention night in Milwaukee with former President Donald Trump鈥檚 address to the delegates. Trump鈥檚 speech marked the first major public remarks he delivered following the assassination attempt against him less than a week ago.
It was also the first in-person Republican convention since the COVID pandemic prompted cancellation of most events surrounding the 2020 RNC. The final evening featured a wide range of speakers, from the retired professional wrestler Hulk Hogan to the evangelical leader Franklin Graham, culminating in Trump鈥檚 speech, which capped off a week of events and speeches in support of the former president鈥檚 vision of the country. Here鈥檚 what you need to know from the 2024 Republican convention.
1. For Trump, unity means aligning with him
As he formally accepted his nomination for the third time, Trump began by promising to be a president for 鈥渁ll of America,鈥� before ultimately pivoting to attacking his enemies - albeit in an unusually sedate tone of voice.
Trump鈥檚 speech foregrounded his attempted assassination, which he described moment by moment, telling the crowd he was protected by 鈥淎lmighty God.鈥�
After those calls for unity and expressions of gratitude, Trump eventually shifted to attacking Democrats for, in his words, 鈥渨eaponizing鈥� the justice system through the multiple criminal indictments he has faced. Without evidence, he accused his political opponents of using the Covid pandemic to 鈥渃heat鈥� on the 2020 election - despite the fact that multiple bipartisan reviews the legitimacy of the election.
Trump also complained about Democrats who鈥檝e described his actions including his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election as a , claiming, 鈥淚 am the one saving democracy.鈥�
2. The GOP is fully and unapologetically the party of Trump
Trump鈥檚 Republican critics were either absent from the convention, or fully converted. The most notable convert to Trump鈥檚 cause: his new running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who鈥檇 Trump 鈥渘oxious鈥� and said he was leading the white working class to a 鈥渄ark place.鈥� Several of Trump鈥檚 former rivals for the nomination, including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley - who said she felt 鈥渘o need to kiss the ring鈥� - appeared on stage and gave speeches endorsing Trump.
After surviving the assassination attempt over the weekend, Trump has emerged looking stronger than ever in the minds of many of his supporters. His son Eric Trump attributed his survival to 鈥渄ivine intervention鈥� and called his father 鈥渢he greatest fighter I have ever seen.鈥�
3. Trump is doubling down on his message with his choice of J.D. Vance
There had been wide speculation for months that Trump might seek to broaden his appeal by picking a female running mate, such as New York Rep. Elise Stefanik or even former rival Nikki Haley; or another person of color, such as South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott or Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. Instead, Trump chose another white man - and one seen as someone who will be an on Trump鈥檚 behalf.
from Trump critic to Trump supporter, and his Ohio roots, could help him make a case for Trump to swing voters in key states in the Midwest and Rust Belt.
4. The women in Trump's orbit are humanizing him
Trump鈥檚 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai, addressed the convention Wednesday night, giving her first public speech and marking the first time any of his grandchildren have spoken publicly.
Trump鈥檚 daughter-in-law Lara, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, now dominated by Trump allies, delivered Tuesday night鈥檚 keynote speech, as an 鈥渁mazing grandfather.鈥� Lara Trump also thanked her father-in-law for always supporting her, saying 鈥渢hank you for never giving up on me.鈥�
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump鈥檚 former press secretary, spoke that same night, painting the picture of a compassionate boss who empowered women in his White House.
Former First Lady Melania Trump, who is seen in public infrequently, made her first appearance on the convention floor Thursday night. Trump praised his wife during his speech, thanking her for calling for national unity after the assassination attempt.
5. Republicans are looking to the next generation of voters
Republicans know that Gen Z voters, as a group, do not feel especially beholden to either major party, and they see an opening.
Vance, at 39, is the first millennial to be on a major party presidential ticket.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a former rival for the Republican nomination, spoke directly to millennials and Gen Z in his speech on Tuesday. Ramaswamy, who鈥檚 38, told millennials, 鈥渨e can鈥檛 just be cynical about our country because the United States of America is still the last, best hope that we have.鈥�
To Gen Z voters, Ramaswamy said 鈥測ou鈥檙e gonna be the generation that actually saves this country,鈥� telling younger voters that the best way to be a 鈥渞ebel鈥� is to be a conservative on college campuses.
The convention also highlighted a group of fraternity brothers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who recently for holding up an American flag after anti-Israel protesters tried to replace it with a Palestinian flag.
The outreach from Republicans to younger voters comes as shows Biden and his party apparently losing ground with younger Black and Latino voters, particularly men.
Copyright 2024 NPR
