Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum says there is a “tremendous emotional force” behind former President Trump at this week’s Republican National Convention following the assassination attempt he survived on Saturday.
“In fact, Saturday will solidify his base,” MacCallum predicted during a brief interview with The Hill on Monday. “After Saturday, there is a huge emotional force behind it, and I spoke to some voters this morning who confirmed that.”
MacCallum is in Milwaukee this week for the convention, where she will anchor the network’s coverage of the convention’s primetime proceedings along with lead political anchor Bret Baier.
The anchor said voters she spoke to in Wisconsin were “emotionally moved” by the image of Trump raising his fists as he was carried off stage by the Secret Service on Saturday after being grazed by a would-be assassin’s bullet.
Asked about reports that Trump is trying to use his assassination attempt as an opportunity to tone down partisan rhetoric on the campaign trail, MacCallum said: “I don’t think you’re going to see Donald Trump transform into a new person, but it’s obviously having an impact on him. when you come within millimeters of losing your life.”
Trump has reportedly reworked his convention acceptance speech this week to focus on unity rather than his usual attacks on President Biden, Democrats and the media.
Trump’s assassination attempt sparked a flood of calls from prominent political figures on both sides of the aisle to lower the temperature and condemn political violence.
Asked what role partisan media outlets have in the rise in violence and growing threats of political violence, MacCallum demurred.
“Unfortunately, political violence is part of what we experience, unfortunately,” she said. “It would be great to see both sides say they would like to put an end to this rhetoric. When you live in an environment where calling a candidate Hitler-style is acceptable, that’s not a place we should be.”
The assassination attempt comes as Trump’s opponent Biden faces calls to drop out of the race following a shaky performance in the first debate between the two candidates late last month.
Baier, during a conversation with The Hill last week, predicted there would be a greater number of eyes on this week’s convention given Biden’s debate showing.
“These conventions are usually a rah-rah session and more of a launch. I think they can get more attention from more Americans across the board,” he said. “This is a pivotal moment and people are really starting to tune in.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
