Haley, DeSantis Speak on GOP Convention's Second Night

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Facts

  • Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, the last Republican to remain in the primary race against former Pres. Donald Trump, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were among those who spoke Tuesday on the GOP nominee's behalf at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.1
  • Haley took the stage to some boos, but her message that Trump has her "strong endorsement" won the crowd over. She previously endorsed Trump earlier this month, months after suspending her campaign.2
  • Haley, who was US ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, presented a message of party unity by saying "you don't have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him."3
  • Meanwhile, DeSantis, who also ran against Trump in the primary but endorsed him after dropping out of the race in January, expressed his support for Trump by saying, "America cannot afford four more years of a Weekend At Bernie's presidency" — a shot at 81-year-old Pres. Joe Biden.4
  • The night, with the theme "Make America Safe Once Again," featured many speeches about law and order, and support for law enforcement. Seven GOP candidates for the US Senate also grabbed some of the spotlight, as Republicans are hoping to take the majority this fall.5

Sources: 1Newsweek, 2NBC, 3FOX News, 4The Guardian and 5Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by Federalist. On a night dedicated to talking about the safety of US citizens and stopping the invasion on the Southern border, it was appropriate that Haley, DeSantis, and other Trump rivals rallied around the nominee and against Biden. America is doomed if Biden and his leftist allies remain in power, so it's imperative for Republicans to stick together while attempting to defeat the current president.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by MSNBC. Haley and Trump's other rivals had no choice but to capitulate to the nominee because he and his authoritarian ambitions run the party and don't tolerate dissent. Everything Haley said about Trump during the primary season — including calling him "unhinged" and cognitively "declining" — remains true, but anyone with hopes of a future in the GOP knows they can't cross Trump.

Predictions