Trump to give RNC keynote, says he'll stress 'unity' after assassination attempt
By: Tal Axelrod and Alexandra Hutzler (ABC News)
The one thing we've learned about Donald Trump, over the last 8 years, is to expect the unexpected. We know that the Republican Party has united behind Trump without the need for any arm twisting. Republicans are happy to be where they are and are happy with their nominee. Republicans don't need any red meat for this election; they fired up and ready to vote. So, Trump delivering a message of unity won't really accomplish much for the party.
IMO Donald Trump needs to deliver a message of outreach. Trump needs to open the Republican tent and invite people in. Trump needs to tell the country that the Republican Party is more than just red meat. Trump can deliver that message but will he? I haven't the foggiest idea. Trump is so erratic there's no way to predict.
Even I can tell that we stand at the threshold of a new American era. Donald Trump has a chance to open the door and lead the country into that new era. But, honestly, I can only hope Trump rises to the moment. IMO if Trump fails to open that door then his legacy will be one of failure; a small minded man that wasted our time.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Former President Donald Trump will formally accept the GOP presidential nomination Thursday night and deliver his first speech since Saturday's assassination attempt, capping off an ebullient Republican convention at a time of heightened political uncertainty.
Trump will give the keynote remarks at a time when he is pushing for a more unifying message after last weekend's shooting and as he rides political tailwinds into the summer and fall, fueled in part by President Joe Biden's calamitous June debate and subsequent Democratic angst.
Such a tone would mark a departure both for Trump individually and for American politics writ large, though operatives and conventiongoers alike predicted a more subdued speech focused on uniting the country, with the nation captivated by news of the attempt on the former president's life in Butler, Pennsylvania.
"I think he's a changed man. Anytime you come within millimeters of your life, that has an effect. I think, from his standpoint, he doesn't want to be a divisive figure. He wants to be a unifying figure at a time that the country is desperately seeking unity and needs unity," said Bryan Lanza, a former Trump campaign official who remains in touch with his current team.
"It's just not a moment for him, and it's just not a moment for the Republican Party. It's a moment for the country," he added. "We experienced a shock. We could literally be at a funeral today."
Trump said he revised his remarks after Saturday's shooting, saying it initially was set to be a "humdinger" but that now it will be "more of a unity speech."
In an era when few thinks punch through the political noise, particularly in a race between a current and former president with virtually universal name recognition, the speech marks a rare moment where Trump can hold the stage at a pivot point in the race, even as it's unclear precisely how much the election's dynamics have changed.
"When you're at this level, there's just certain speeches that the world stops and listens to, and your nominating speech is one," said veteran GOP strategist Chip Saltsman.
"Unity" has been the buzz word since Saturday, with leaders of both parties lamenting the violence and urging renewed civility in the country's politics.
However, such a tone could also help Trump politically, operatives predicted.
While in office, Trump bled support from centrist, suburban voters -- enough to cost him reelection in 2020. Their defection was widely attributed more to tone than to policy disagreements, and now, with polls showing Biden with hefty disapproval ratings, a more leveled approach from Trump could help win some voters back to his side, including by detailing the immediate aftermath of the shooting, strategists said.
"How do you get the Republicans that don't particularly like you? How do you get the true undecideds and independents? And how do you get the Democrats that aren't happy with Joe Biden? Obviously, those are typically issue-type conversations, but I think in this case he can do it with his emotion," Saltsman said.
To be certain, Trump is still widely anticipated to go after Biden's record, prosecuting the kind of contrast on policies that he's been putting forth since the election began.
"I expect to hear about Afghanistan withdrawal and the economy and the border and these big picture issues that have formed around this campaign," said one former senior Trump administration official. "A lot of the things that I think he covers on a regular basis in his rallies, but it'll be more surgical, if Trump's capable of surgical."
"I do think you'll see him add Kamala in a good amount to the Biden criticisms. I think that news today makes it clear that they're still pushing on that, and President Trump's pretty keen to this as an option for them," the person added, referencing growing chatter around Democrats' calls for Biden to drop out of the race.
And it's still unclear precisely how long the veneer of unity can last. Politics has morphed into a blood sport in the U.S., and those working for both candidates may be more willing to push the envelope when going after their opponents.
"I'll be honest, it's not gonna be the tone you hear from the rest of us, we're seasoned operatives. We fight, and that's how you gain position is by fighting," Lanza said.
Interviews with conventiongoers showed an appetite for both unity and Trump's typical punchiness.
"Peace and unity because it's a very divided country right now," Awet Gebremariam, a delegate from California, said when asked what she wants to hear from Trump. "He almost lost his life. And I think he's very subdued and he's very reserved and he's very grounded now. And I think he's going to give a great, great speech, maybe very different from the speeches before he used to give before."
Others, like Daniel Bobay, an alternate delegate from Texas, wanted more of a mix, arguing that "you can fight nicely."
"I'm hoping," Elizabeth Hinds-Ferrick, a delegate from Massachusetts said, when asked if she wanted the rhetoric toned down. "But at least I still expect him to be a fighter, because he speaks straight from the heart."
Politically, Democrats concede a more unifying tone from Trump could make it harder to knock him as a threat to democracy, especially after the shooting, even if they're skeptical he can keep it up long after the GOP convention.
"I think there's an initial concern that if Trump can play this the right way that he can look like a unifier and get outside of his brand," one battleground Democratic strategist said. "But then also at the same time, I would tell you that no one has any confidence that he can continue to play the straight man."
As far as Thursday goes, however, Trump is virtually guaranteed a hero's welcome, no matter what he says.
"I think it's gonna be pretty epic," the former senior administration official said. "Everyone in that hall loves the man, and him speaking to them for the first time since Saturday is going to have a pretty raucous atmosphere. I imagine it's gonna be emotional. You're gonna see delegates teary-eyed and hooting and hollering."
ABC News' Jonathan Karl contributed to this report.
Tags
Who is online
155 visitors
Biden and Democrats are focused on unity because their party is divided. What the political left fears most is that Trump can deliver a message of outreach that they cannot. Trump is capable of reaching out and inviting the country to join Republicans in building a new era. The question is whether or not Trump has the temperament, discipline, and strength of will to open the Republican tent.
Too much too little too late
Plus that scumbag traitor is no unifier - just an inciter and a divider and a hateful and vengeful turd bent on retribution on all who have pointed out the truth of what it is.
Good that you finally see Biden for what he is
Again, you just described Biden.
Congrats.
I will give The Republicans a little unsolicited advice. Stop insulting Biden, right now. Keep it up after he is gone and you will make him and the Democrats very sympathetic figures to the undecided.
I say this because I am 99% sure they wont take this advice.
Give this to Joe, it's sparklie.
The Democratic Party thanks you.
consider it like my charity work with unwed mothers , just helping them get their start , you know .
After Biden is gone, what does it matter?
I will admit , i am curious to see , IF joe steps down that is still an IF , ala LBJ, who exactly it would be to pick up the gauntlet .
In any event , it would i think make many do a re-evaluation . different candidate , different comparison .
I can say for myself , if that person is any of the already mentioned publicly recognizable names , i will still be declining to participate in this cycles presidential election .
Grover Norquist said "they didn't need a President to lead them ...or provide direction. they just needed someone that had enough digits to hold a pen".
Although he was referring to his GoP, it really applies to either party doesn't it?
Combined with a faltering Biden this does look like it's his '...crown to lose..." - and that's been done. It would be pleasant to see him act like a leader instead of a competitor.
So what if he "does"? He is a mentally ill malignant narcissist and has been for decades. It is impossible for him to act normal for more than a few minutes at a time.
You just described Biden perfectly.
He had his ear stung by a humblebee. BJ Clinton started hauling a Bible around - maybe this guy can find Jesus, too.
Who knew that Mr. Kellyanne Conway was still a thing.
No one is happier than George Conway that Trump is still a thing.
Only time he gets 15 more minutes of fame
[✘]
[✘]
Democrat's and the left can't say they did this.
It's no secret that the Democrats are divisive. They've even gone on record calling for violence.
I read somewhere that the current head of the democrat party put a bullseye on his opponent.
Oh common, he didn't really mean it./S
He apologized after the shooter missed; he got through ripping his staff a new one; and watching all of the twitter and youtube videos of screaming TDS sufferers lamenting that Trump was still alive (and the shooter missed because he was white).
He also called for "unity" and "cooling down".
He didn't mean for his media sycophants- so they are still in full attack mode.
Unfortunately for Biden he did mean that message for the Democrat party. But now that Trump is the nominee and has named his VP; they no long need Biden. Who they are sure will lose. The kid gloves are off. Biden and the Democrats are going to politically tear each other apart now. Money is on Obama- the Democrats still follow the puppet master; and most of Biden's administration is loyal to Obama.
Ah, memories of Sarah Palin ... @!@
Sarah Palin was the head of the democratic party?
She's a woman, so when she posted it on Facebook, Democrats, who are obviously sexist, called it incitement to murder. As a white man, Biden is allowed to do those same things without being criticized by Democrats.
Can you imagine the hate spewing from the left if it were a gay black man who was conservative who posted the bullseyes as Palin did? Holy shit the hate would be apocalyptic.
Eric Trump's speech is the perfect example of living in an alternate reality.
Seems to me he is just speaking to his audience.
That may be so, his audience is in an alternate reality too.
Too bad that they are allowed to vote.
even in the idiocracy we live in everyone is allowed to vote
Ain’t it great!
I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
Probably they way they have spun it since it began.
this speech is far worse than i was expecting
Trump has been talking for 20 minutes about the shooting and is barely halfway through the story yet
I think it’s great. He has brought people into the gop that never would’ve considered it under the stodgy, nose-in-the-air leadership from types like bush, cheney, mccain, romney, ryan, etc.
Lol, of course it is. It couldn’t be anything but.
Trump should go back to talking about Hannibal Lecter because he looks lost up there
Lmao, says the one that voted for someone with dementia.
trump is damn near exhibiting dementia right this minute
he's off his teleprompter, look out below
So Trump is speaking in complete sentences and can maintain a train of thought.
Biden will be kicked to the curb before August 1 and the left will be giving every excuse but the truth, Biden is an incompetent racist old fool.
Your guy is melting in front of the whole world...
Idiocracy reared its ugly head today and tonight at the Republican convention.
The American media should be totally ashamed of themselves for promoting this total dumpster fire as a "unity" speech. Some of them shouldnt have a job tomorrow.
I cannot understand what Trump is saying. He is talking too fast. The crowd seems stunned...
i wish he'd get it over with. he's been torturing the non MAGAs in the tv audience for over an hour and a half