Republican National Convention: Trump Surprises Crowd on Day 1

Improve the News Foundation -

Facts

  • Former Pres. Donald Trump appeared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday — his first public appearance since a bullet grazed him and he survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on Saturday.1
  • Trump wore a white bandage over his right ear as he made his way to his seat hours after formally clinching the GOP presidential nomination and announcing Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his vice presidential pick.2
  • The crowd chanted 'fight, fight, fight' — words Trump screamed moments after he was shot days earlier — while he shook hands with several conservative media personalities and then stood with Vance, US House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).2
  • Throughout the day and night, numerous speakers criticized the Biden administration's handling of border security, the economy, and cultural issues. Many spoke of Trump in biblical terms, with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) describing the former president as 'an American lion' for surviving the shooting.3
  • The convention continues Tuesday with a theme of 'Make America Safe Once Again.' The immigration- and crime-focused night will see Trump's two closest rivals from primary season — former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — take the stage.4

Sources: 1Time, 2Independent, 3USA Today and 4Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by Daily Mail. If there were any doubts about the unity of the GOP, they were flushed thanks to Trump's survival of the attempt on his life and his appearance on the first night of the RNC. Despite being targeted, Trump insisted on going through with the schedule the way it was set before the shooting. He's proving he'll fight for his supporters, and they're willing to fight for him. Republicans have all the momentum this election season.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Huffington Post. Trump's appearance at the convention and the crowd's lauding of him showed the GOP continues to value party over country. Instead of the unifying message the party promised, the first day of the convention presented incendiary speakers who blamed Democrats for everything, and a vice presidential pick who blamed Biden's rhetoric for the shooting. Republicans can't help themselves.

Predictions