Former President Trump arrived unannounced at the Republican National Convention on Monday, igniting the crowd during his first public appearance since a gunman tried to assassinate him during a Saturday night rally.
“We want Trump,” the delegates chanted, leaping to their feet, as video of Trump entering the arena aired overhead and Lee Greenwood sang his anthem, “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Trump, a white bandage on his right ear, walked into the arena saying “Thank you” and raised his fist near talk show host Tucker Carlson before joining his family and clapping as he shook the hand of Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican and his new running mate. The two men stood together as Greenwood sang and introduced him as “the next president.”
The crowd then chanted “USA” several times and then “Fight! Fight! Fight!” — the new rallying cry echoing Trump’s words after he was hit — while the former president stood and smiled.
“It’s just an electric moment,” said delegate Tim O’Reilly, chairman of the Los Angeles County Republican Party. “The fact that we almost saw him killed two days ago, but for a millimeter and the turn of his head. We’d be having a completely different convention. Instead we have a completely unified party. You can see that.”
Rachel Gunther, a delegate from Long Beach, called the moment “exhilarating.”
“Seeing him survive something like that you, it’s amazing,” said the 67–year-old retiree, adding that she believes the party was unified, “but this is taking it to the next level. He’s become like iconic legend status. That picture of him with his fist in the air, it’s very Iwo Jima.”
Nominees traditionally speak on the fourth and final night on the national nominating convention. Trump’s appearance on the first night was not unexpected, however, given the galvanizing effect of the assassination attempt on his supporters.
“On Saturday, the devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle, but an American lion got back up on his feet and he roared,” Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, said in an earlier floor speech Monday.
His ear was injured in the attack, which killed one person in the audience in addition to the gunman, and injured two others.
Most of the speakers mentioned the attack, which is likely to be a rallying cry throughout the four-day gathering.
“We all can agree, whether people like him or they don’t like him, in light of what happened to him on Saturday, he has proven to be one tough SOB,” said Sean O’Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the night’s closing speaker.
Trump’s appearance came on the convention’s first day, which was dominated by the selection of Vance as Trump’s running mate.
Trump called for unity after the attack, but speakers on the first night included North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who said at a church service in late June, “Some folks need killing.” Robinson did not make similar comments Monday, instead focusing on his life story and quest to become his state’s first Black governor in addition to attacks on President Biden’s policies.
Mehta reported from Milwaukee and Bierman from Washington.
