The Republican National Convention was not expecting the presence of Donald Trump until Thursday.
However, the former President made an unexpected appearance on Monday, a mere few days after surviving a near-fatal assassination attempt.
His appearance, marked by a bandaged ear and a raised fist, stirred emotions among the delegates and attendees. His decision to attend the convention, despite his recent brush with death, was a testament to his resilience and determination.
In the days following the assassination attempt, social media was abuzz with simulations, photos, and diagrams illustrating the gravity of the situation. Trump himself acknowledged the divine intervention that saved his life on Truth Social, a sentiment echoed by his confidants, as reported by the Daily Caller. They noted a renewed strength and resolve in the former president's demeanor.
Blake Marnell, a California delegate frequently seen at Trump rallies in his signature brick suit, shared his encounter with Trump at the convention. "He came up to me and put his hand through Secret Service to shake my hand. He looked me right in the eye. He said, that was a heck of a day, wasnt it? I said, yes, it was, sir,'" Marnell recounted. "The truth is, hes a heck of a guy and were lucky to have him.
Donald Trump Jr. recounted the agonizing wait to hear news of his father's condition. He shared a light-hearted moment from a phone call with his father after the incident, where they joked about Trump's hair. "I just said, listen, most importantly, hows the hair? [He said] Its fine. Its a little bit bloody," Trump Jr. said. The attempt on Trump's life left one person dead and two critically injured. Trump attributed his survival to divine intervention.
The assassination attempt occurred during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Six minutes into his speech, gunshots rang out, and Trump was seen clutching his neck before ducking behind the lectern. Moments later, he emerged, his face bloodied, and raised a fist in a show of defiance. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, had positioned himself on a rooftop about 150 yards away.
In the wake of the assassination attempt, Trump decided to overhaul his speech for the RNC, according to the Washington Examiner. He shifted his focus from attacking the Biden administration to promoting unity and drawing the country together using his near-death experience.
Republican New York Rep. Claudia Tenney shared her conversation with Rep. Ronnie Jackson, who spent the day after the shooting with Trump. "And he said hes a very different person, Tenney said. I think he understands and realizes that was an act of God, and he was saved by God. I mean, just the fact that he turned his head.
Speaker Mike Johnson drew parallels between Trump's experience and a historical incident involving President George Washington, who managed to avoid gunfire during the French and Indian war. Johnson noted the proximity of the two incidents, both in terms of location and timing. He shared this observation with Trump, who agreed with the divine intervention theory.
Despite considering skipping the initial days of the convention, Trump decided to attend, much to the relief of RNC Chairman Michael Whatley. Trump's entrance into the Fiserv Stadium, with his bandaged ear and the tune of 'God Bless The USA' playing, was a poignant moment for many.
Heritage Foundation President Dr. Kevin Roberts expressed his relief and gratitude for Trump's survival. "Lord knows what wouldve happened to this country had that assassination been successful, he said. Roberts also noted the visible strength and resolve in Trump's demeanor.
Thomas Hodgson, Chairman of Trump's campaign in Massachusetts, observed a change in Trump's demeanor. "It struck me that he looked a little more reflective, still the courageous guy he was with his fist in the air, but I think probably like any other human being he had some different perspective around what took place, he said.
Johnson suggested that Trump's emotional state could be attributed to the weight of his presidential campaign. "He believes that he has been spared for a reason and as he said in the last couple of days, it is to unify the country and lead it again. And that is a very sobering and exciting prospect, Johnson said. This sentiment was reflected in Trump's countenance, indicating his readiness to take on the challenges ahead.
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