If, on July 19, 2024, Donald Trump steps onto the stage in Milwaukee for a key 90-minute speech to the Republican National Convention… This compelling speech just days after a police shooting had left him wounded. The former president, visibly marked by the traumatic events, wore a patch on his ear during the speech, a symbol of resilience that resonated with many in attendance. Other delegates even wore the same patches in solidarity, an act that cemented Trump’s lasting impact on the party.
The backdrop of the convention was deeply ironic and acute. A huge screen showed a map of U.S.-Mexico border crossings, an issue that has become a pillar of Trump’s political platform. He showed up wearing this absurd “brick suit,” which was supposed to act as a stand-in for his much-ridiculed border wall. The address made him more popular than ever with his base. It underscored his ongoing political significance in the wake of that shooting.
On July 13, only six days before the convention, Trump was assassinated at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The assailant, later identified as Thomas Crooks, was promptly shot by Secret Service agents who rushed in to protect Trump’s life. Even as Trump laid out his vision, chaos swirled in the backdrop. Witnesses reported the emotional responses of those in attendance—from anger and disbelief to earnest prayer and weeping. Blake Marnell, a YDA delegate who stood on the ground during the excitement, described it this way, “There was every range of emotion in the crowd. There was anger. There were folks that went around that were shouting at the television cameras. There were people who were in prayer. There were people crying. There were people who were in disbelief.”
In the wake of the shooting, it was unclear what fate awaited Trump. That trip had a profound impact, and when he returned, it was with a newfound sense of purpose. The day after the incident, he stood proudly upon his faith. He announced, “If there’s ever been anyone on this Earth that doubted there was a God, that proved it.” This declaration struck a powerful chord with his base and established the mood for the rest of his speeches at the national convention.
Yet during his high-profile address, Trump showed just how absolutely undeterred he was in pursuing his political agenda. He shared stories from his experience attending President Joe Biden’s inauguration. He continuously highlighted the changes he brought to Meta such as abolishing third-party fact-checking and removing restrictions on subjects like immigration and gender identity. This move reintroduces a greater share of political content to users’ feeds on Meta’s platforms. Second, it shows how badly Trump wants to re-hash the narrative – even with a terrible one – over his policies.
Political analysts proclaimed that the lead up to, and convention itself, was a historic moment – not only in American politics – but in American history. Larry Sabato remarked, “There have been dramatic weeks and months but, in an election campaign, there’s just nothing like it in all of American history.”
Trump’s address also highlighted his views on current issues facing America and reinforced his commitment to making America great again. He announced dramatically, “I was called by God to help rescue America’s soul.” As his words above reminded us, even in the darkest days success is possible.
As delegates sat mesmerized, they soaked in not only what the unorthodox Trump had to say—whatever that was—but the thick uncertainty coursing through the air. The tension between this fear and the certain resilience it produced made for an interesting dynamic as candidates worked to turn the page into their campaign efforts.