Former US President Donald Trump arrived at the Republican National Convention on Monday, making his first public appearance after surviving the assassination attempt on Saturday.
Trump, wearing a white bandage on his right ear, waved to supporters and received a standing ovation from the audience. He made no remarks during the convention but stood alongside his newly announced running mate, Senator JD Vance. He applauded the officials and guests as they addressed the convention and sat next to Vance throughout the event. Supporters carried posters that read, “Make America Wealthy Again.”
Trump is scheduled to formally accept his party’s nomination as the presidential candidate to challenge US President Joe Biden in the November 5 elections.
The four-day convention, which is expected to draw around 50,000 attendees, features a different theme each day. Monday’s theme is “Make America Wealthy Again,” followed by “Make America Safe Again” on Tuesday, “Make America Strong Again” on Wednesday, and “Make America Great Once Again” on Thursday. The event includes speeches from high-profile speakers and culminates in a primetime address from the presidential candidate.
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, one of Trump’s fiercest rivals during the Republican primary, was initially expected to skip the convention. However, following the assassination attempt, she is now slated to attend and speak at the event. RNC co-chair Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, announced that celebrities would also be among the speakers. Notably absent from the guest list are former Republican Party stalwarts such as George Bush, Mike Pence, and Mitt Romney.
On Saturday, Trump was on stage at a campaign rally when gunshots rang out, prompting Secret Service agents to storm the stage. Trump later revealed that a bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear. The shooting resulted in the death of one rally attendee and left two others critically injured. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified the gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The case remains under investigation.
In an interview with ABC News, Trump described the assassination attempt as having an “impact.” When asked if the close call with the bullet had changed him, he replied, “I don’t like to think about that, but yes, I think it has an impact.” Trump assured that his ear is healing well and expressed hope that the bandage would be removed by the time he addresses the Republican National Convention on Thursday.
Every four years, the major US parties hold conventions to formally choose their presidential nominees. Delegates from each state pledge their support to their preferred candidates and ratify the party’s platform during these events.
Trump’s nomination is a mere formality, having secured 2,265 delegates in the primaries, more than enough for the nomination.