The assassination attempt on former President Trump has rocked the Republican National Convention, sparking discussions about security, the former president’s presence and a rallying effect ahead of the weeklong event in Milwaukee.
This week’s convention was expected to be a relatively scripted affair, where Republicans hoped to make few major waves while Democrats grappled with infighting over whether President Biden should remain the party’s nominee. The biggest question mark was how and when Trump would reveal his running mate.
But after Trump was grazed by a bullet at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, the calculation changed.
“Right now, many of us are angry. We are reeling from the shocking events of last night,” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who is scheduled to speak Wednesday night, told NewsNation. “We should have a unifying tone. I think it will happen naturally, that we will have a unifying message, not just for the Republican Party, but for a nation that will be hurting and will need time to recover in the coming weeks and months.”
The former president said Saturday that he was hit by a bullet in the ear while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Another rally participant was killed, as was the alleged shooter.
Trump announced he would be at the RNC earlier in the week and would continue as planned, after saying he had considered postponing the convention by two days.
“I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential killer, to force changes to the schedule or anything else,” Trump said in a statement.
Security is expected to be beefed up, although Republican lawmakers and officials have downplayed any imminent risk in light of Saturday’s shooting.
Republicans rallied around Trump after Saturday’s shooting, underscoring how the party is coming together in a way that has rarely happened since he was first nominated in 2016.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), one of Trump’s fiercest primary rivals, is scheduled to speak at the convention. Nikki Haley, who won the second-most delegates in the primary, will also speak at the convention after initially saying she would not attend.
“I think the unwavering attitude that he’s bringing to Milwaukee now is going to energize this crowd even more,” Reince Priebus, chairman of the convention host committee, said Sunday on ABC.
Previously, much of the week’s focus was expected to be on Trump’s announcement of a running mate, a decision he has teased and turned into a political version of “The Apprentice” in recent weeks.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) are the finalists for the job, which some Trump allies have said will take on greater importance in the aftermath. the attempt on Trump’s life.
“He needs to pick a vice president, you know. Today highlights why this is an important choice,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday on NBC. “He wants someone who is ready from day one, who can help him win, who can grow the map.”
Each day of the convention will feature a different theme along the lines of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. Monday’s theme will focus on the economy, Tuesday’s will focus on security and crime, Wednesday’s will be on military strength and border security, and Thursday’s will focus largely on plans Trump for a second term.
An RNC panel last week approved a draft party platform that echoes Trump on key issues including trade, immigration and foreign policy, while eliminating specific language about traditional marriage and enacting limits on abortion.
Trump denied that the platform change was aimed at attracting moderate voters.
“It’s not about targeting moderates, it’s common sense,” Trump said last week on Fox News Radio. “They basically banned, in some cases, homosexuality. I do not want it. That’s not what we’re about. They had other things that are ridiculous.”
Before the shooting, Republicans were riding high after more than two weeks that were consumed by the aftershocks of Biden’s disastrous debate performance and questions about his viability at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Now, even this discussion has been put aside after the assassination attempt that shocked the country.
It also altered the mood of the Republican Party heading into Milwaukee from one focused on limiting unforced errors and keeping the focus on Biden to rampant vitriol.
Despite the deep anger, some lawmakers believe it’s time to lower the temperature as the campaign enters its final months.
“There is frustration on our part about the way President Trump has been treated. But I’m grateful today that he’s alive,” Graham said in the interview about Republicans blaming Democrats for what happened in Butler.
“Let’s just, today, be grateful that our former president, political candidate, survived an assassination attempt,” he continued. “And we’re going to try to do better here. I don’t want to go down that path now.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
