Former President Donald Trump, exuding confidence, concluded the Republican National Convention on Thursday with repeated calls for support, not just from the narrow coalition that barely secured his election in 2016 but also from Americans who have held him in disdain but who might now turn to him for leadership.
In a speech that ran for more than an hour and a half, the Republican nominee spoke in hushed tones as he described at length the shooting he survived in Butler, Pennsylvania, last weekend, his first public speech since the assassination attempt. He did veer into familiar partisan attacks and insults, labeling Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the former House speaker, “crazy,” and lashing out at the man who defeated him in 2020, President Joe Biden.
But he tried to fall back on calls for unity.
“I am here tonight to lay out a vision for the whole nation,” he said. “To every citizen, whether you are young or old, man or woman, Democrat, Republican or independent, Black or white, Asian or Hispanic, I extend to you a hand of loyalty and friendship.”
Here’s what else to know:
The grand finale: Trump’s closing address capped four days of speeches that praised him effusively and repeatedly criticized Biden over inflation, immigration and his age. The night’s theme was “Make America Great Once Again,” and the evening featured members of his administration. Linda McMahon, the former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO who was the head of the Small Business Administration under Trump, praised him on tax policy, and Mike Pompeo, one of his secretaries of state, hailed him on national defense.
Republican convention or “Trumpmania?” Figures as disparate as former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, evangelical leader Franklin Graham, Trump’s son Eric and UFC CEO Dana White also spoke, and Kid Rock helped introduce Trump with a musical performance. But professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, a newly minted Trump supporter, brought the crowd to a fever pitch when he ripped off his shirt onstage to reveal a Trump-Vance tank top and declared that “Trumpmania” was here to stay.
Pressure on Biden: The Republican convention played out amid increasing pressure on Biden following his disastrous debate performance three weeks ago. Several people close to the president said they believed that he had begun to accept the idea that he might not be able to win in November and might have to drop out of the race.
Down-ballot pitches: The night’s first two speakers, Sen. Steve Daines of Montana and Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, focused on adding Republican seats in both chambers. Daines assailed Democrats over Trump’s two impeachments, while Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, praised his Republican colleagues for their votes to impeach Biden’s homeland security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas. But the speaker list snubbed some Trump loyalists in Congress.
The rest of the convention: The first three nights of the GOP convention were dedicated to prosperity, safety and strength — themes that speakers often tied to the security of the southern border, an issue that powered Trump to victory in 2016.
