RNC 2024: Trump formally accepts GOP nomination for president
MILWAUKEE - Former President Donald Trump took the stage Thursday on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, where he formally accepted the party's nomination for President of the United States.
"Together we will launch a new era of safety, prosperity and freedom for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed. The discord and division in our society must be healed. We must heal it quickly. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together or we fall apart."
"I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America," he added. "So tonight, with faith and devotion, I proudly accept your nomination for president of the United States."
"I am not supposed to be here tonight," Trump said, as the crowd shouted back, "Yes you are."
"I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God," Trump said. "In watching the reports over the last few days, many people say it was a providential moment."
"The crowd was confused because they thought I was dead," Trump said. "And there was great great sorrow. I could see that on their faces as I looked up. They didn't know I was looking out they thought it was over. When I could see it I wanted to do something to let them know I was okay. I raised my right arm looked at the thousands and thousands of people that were breathlessly waiting and started shouting, 'fight, fight, fight.'
Each day of the convention has had a theme; Thursday’s is "Make America Great Once Again."
Here's what we know so far (estimated times are in Eastern Standard Time):
10:33 p.m.
Former President Donald Trump paid tribute to firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed in last week's assassination attempt on Trump, calling the Pennsylvania father a "fine man."
"Tragically, the shooter claimed the life of one of our fellow Americans, Corey Comperatore, and seriously wounded two other great warriors, David Dutch and James Copenhaver. I spoke to all three families of these tremendous people—our love and prayers are with them, and always will be," Trump said. " Corey, a highly respected former fire chief, was accompanied by his wife Helen and two precious daughters. He lost his life selflessly acting as a human shield to protect them from flying bullets. He was such a fine man.
10:24 p.m.
Ultimate Fighting Champion CEO Dana White introduced the former president this year, a role previously held by Melania and Ivanka Trump.
"As an entertainer, I tried to stay out of politics," White said. "But with everything that’s happened to our country over the past four years and everything that happened last week, I can no longer stay silent."
10:00 p.m.
Eric Trump, one of Trump's three sons, took the stage and praised his father's "unwavering courage" since the recent attempt on his life, both publicly and in private conversations.
He highlighted his father's career as a developer in New York, noting how he began building skyscrapers when others were turning away due to rampant crime. Eric also spoke about his father's achievements while in office from 2016 to 2020. "My father made the United States safe. Our borders were closed. There was peace in the Middle East," he said.
9:28 p.m.
Retired pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, once an Obama supporter, made a surprising appearance at the RNC on Thursday, fully endorsing Trump, whom he recently called his "hero." Hogan walked on stage swinging an American flag.
"You know something, I have had some great tag teams in my time," Hogan said. "But you know something, I see the greatest tag team of my life, standing together, getting ready to straighten this country up."
8:35 p.m.
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson says that he called Trump hours after Saturday’s assassination attempt and the former president didn’t talk about himself.
"He said only how amazed he was and how proud he was of the crowd that didn’t run," Tucker recounted. "Of course they didn’t run; his courage gave them heart."
Carlson also said that Trump didn’t try to create division after the attack. "He turned down the most obvious opportunity to inflame the nation," Carlson said.
7:44 p.m.
The pastor of a Detroit church Trump visited said he came to listen and learn.
"Could it be that Jesus Christ preserved him for a time such as this?" Lorenzo Sewell proclaimed. He noted Trump "came to the hood because he cares about average Americans."
7:34 p.m.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the Trump administration's foreign policy, stating, "We put America first every single day." He criticized Biden for the Afghanistan pullout and blamed him for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Gaza's attack on Israel, asserting, "We can’t trust the Biden administration."
Pompeo, who was also Trump's CIA director and a Kansas congressman, considered running for the GOP nomination but chose not to, citing timing concerns for him and his family.
Highlights from the RNC
Trump energized the crowd Monday night in his first public appearance since Saturday's assassination attempt. That day, he chose U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio to be his running mate.
His former opponents for the GOP nomination also took the stage to show their support.
Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador who was Trump’s final challenger in the GOP primary, directly addressed her supporters after taking the stage to a mix of cheers and boos.
"My message to them is simple: You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him," Haley said.
She was followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a one-time Trump ally turned primary rival who has worked to rebuild his relationship with the former president since dropping out of the primary.
"Donald Trump has been demonized. He’s been sued. He’s been prosecuted. And he nearly lost his life," DeSantis told the crowd. "We cannot let him down. And we cannot let America down."
Such overtures are typical in political conventions, where the purpose is often to bring a party together after bitter primaries. But the Haley and DeSantis appearances were particularly notable given the personal animosity that defined this year’s GOP contest — much of that being directed by Trump at Haley and DeSantis.
The Associated Press and FOX News contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.