Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, made a dramatic entrance at the Republican National Convention on Monday, just two days after a would-be assassin’s bullet grazed his right ear. Trump walked into the Fiserv Forum with a thick bandage over his ear, as the crowd chanted “Fight! Fight! Fight” and pumped their fists.
The former president received a raucous ovation from the party faithful, mouthed “Thank you,” and settled into a box with his children and Senator J.D. Vance, his chosen running mate. Trump is set to formally accept the party’s nomination on Thursday and face Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 5 election.
The convention began less than 48 hours after a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one supporter. Senator Tim Scott said divine intervention spared Trump’s life, calling him “an American lion who roared back to his feet.”
Vance, a fierce Trump critic in 2016, has become one of his staunchest defenders and is deeply popular with Trump’s core supporters. However, it remains to be seen if he can broaden the ticket’s appeal. Opinion polls show a close race between Trump and Biden, though Trump leads in several swing states.
Following the shooting, Trump said he was revising his acceptance speech to emphasize national unity. The incident has altered the dynamics of the presidential campaign, shifting the focus to Trump’s message and whether he will seize the opportunity to deliver a unifying message or paint a dark portrait of a nation under siege.
