Trump to formally accept Republican presidential nomination in speech altered after assassination attempt
MILWAUKEE - Five days after surviving an assassination attempt, former President Trump on Thursday will formally accept the GOP presidential nomination during the culminating moment of the 2024 Republican National Convention.
The shooting, at Trump's rally Saturday in western Pennsylvania where one spectator was killed, along with the gunman, instantly impacted the tone and message of the convention, and altered the former president's address.
The Trump campaign has said this week that the former president - following his brush with death - will use his speech to call for unity in the face of tragedy instead of criticizing his political adversaries.
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Trump, in an interview Sunday with the Washington Examiner, said "honestly, it’s going to be a whole different speech now."
"It is a chance to bring the country together. I was given that chance," he emphasized.
And in an email to supporters on the eve of his address, Trump said "I will lay out my vision to UNITE OUR COUNTRY AND MAKE IT GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!"
The push for party unity was on display during the first three days of the convention, with former GOP presidential rivals Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley - who battled Trump in a contentious primary season - delivered speeches from the podium in support of the former president.
Republicans are using the convention as a venue to reunite the party and energize delegates and activists ahead of the final stretch of the campaign in Trump's 2024 election rematch with President Biden.
"This is obviously an opportunity to bring the country together," Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita said