Former President Donald Trump is known for high-energy, often raucous campaign speeches in which he directly assails the policies of President Joe Biden and his Democratic Party, but after accepting the GOP nomination on Thursday night at the Republican National Convention, he sounded a much more conciliatory tone.
Trump, who nearly lost his life on Saturday to an assassin’s bullet, pledged to be a president for the entire country, not just half, while predicting an “incredible victory” in November.
“I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America because there is no victory in winning for half of America,” Trump said. “So tonight, with faith and devotion, I proudly accept your nomination for president of the United States.”
“I am here tonight to lay out a vision for the whole nation. 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,” Trump said. “Together, we will lead America to new heights of greatness like the world has never seen before.”
He discussed his plans for both the country’s internal and external affairs, which included protecting the southern border, alleviating the effects of rising prices, strengthening the middle class, returning jobs to the United States from overseas, and calming the global conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Trump also boasted about his Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, stating he would push forward with the law and abolish all taxes on tips, which would be a great relief for employees in the food service industry.
“With proper leadership, every disaster we are now enduring will be fixed—and fixed quickly. So tonight, whether you’ve supported me in the past or not, I hope you will support me in the future, because I will bring back the American Dream,” Trump said. “That’s what we’re going to do. With great humility, I am asking you to be excited about the future of our country.”
Trump also recounted the harrowing ordeal during his Butler, Pa., speech, noting that one of his supporters was killed and two others severely wounded. He also said he wouldn’t be publicly talking about it again because it is “too painful.”
“With proper leadership, every disaster we are now enduring will be fixed—and fixed quickly. So tonight, whether you’ve supported me in the past or not, I hope you will support me in the future, because I will bring back the American Dream,” Trump said. “That’s what we’re going to do. With great humility, I am asking you to be excited about the future of our country.”
“In order to see the chart, I started to, like this, turn to my right and was ready to begin a little bit further turn, which I am very lucky I didn’t do. When I heard a loud, whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard,” Trump said. “On my right ear. I said to myself, wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet.”
“I immediately knew it was very serious that we were under attack and in one movement proceeded to drop to the ground. Bullets were continuing to fly as very brave Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and they really did, they rushed to the stage. These are great people. At great risk, I will tell you. And pounced on top of me, so that I would be protected,” he continued.
“There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way, I felt very safe because I had God on my side. I felt that. The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark.”
Trump added: “I am not supposed to be here tonight. I’m not supposed to be here.”
WATCH:
Trump recounts the assassination attempt
“There was blood pouring everywhere and yet in a certain way I felt very safe because I had God on my side”
Most powerful acceptance speech of all time pic.twitter.com/Rowarp0TwR
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) July 19, 2024
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