Republican convention aims for unity — but keeps some of the old red meat

MILWAUKEE — The economy was the focus of the first night of the Republican National Convention, but it was Donald Trump’s first public appearance since the attempted assassination at his rally Saturday that stole the show.

Electricity pulsed through Fiserv Forum when Trump, wearing a large white bandage over his right ear, entered the venue. The crowd erupted into raucous cheers as Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the U.S.A.” — a song played at every Trump rally — in a moment that made a number of people in the crowd, including the former president’s son Don Jr. emotional.

Trump did not make any remarks, other than mouthing “thank you” to attendees, before settling into a box seat next to Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, whom he announced as his running mate earlier in the afternoon, and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. Imitating Trump’s remarks after he was shot and stood back up, rally attendees shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Most speakers stuck to the night’s theme — “Make America Wealthy Again” — but interspersed through the night were mentions of the shooting and rhetoric that, at times, contradicted Trump’s own calls for unity.

High inflation, and what the speakers said was the lackluster economy under President Joe Biden, was a key talking point throughout the night.

“Many families today are having that same experience,” said North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, speaking of his experience growing up poor. “Grocery prices have skyrocketed, and gas has nearly doubled in North Carolina factories.”

A subdued tone from Robinson, who is running for governor, was particularly notable because he is well-known for pugilistic speeches sometimes laced with violent remarks, including one this month when he said, “Some folks need