Trump savors convention crowd in lengthy acceptance speech
Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in a speech heavy with references to the shooting he survived last week and elongated by ad-libbed applause lines and riffs.
MILWAUKEE — Donald Trump on Thursday night formally accepted the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in a speech heavy with references to the shooting he survived last week and elongated by ad-libbed applause lines and riffs — capping a long-anticipated moment that came only after a winding and dramatic campaign.
Trump, now the first major-party presidential nominee who has been convicted of felonies, took the stage days after a 20-year-old gunman nearly assassinated him during a rally in Pennsylvania, firing a bullet that clipped his right ear and left it bloodied. He wore a white square bandage over his wounded ear throughout the convention, with some attendees wearing their own in solidarity during the weeklong event.
“Let me begin this evening by expressing my gratitude to the American people for your outpouring of love and support following the assassination attempt at my rally on Saturday,” Trump said near the start of the 93-minute speech. “As you already know, the assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life.”
The shooter injured two other people and killed rallygoer Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief from the region. Trump held a moment of silence for him during his speech. Comperatore’s firefighter jacket and helmet were placed on display during his remarks, and Trump called him “a fine man” to cheers, walking over to kiss his gear.
While Trump is known for his off-the-cuff public remarks and social media posts, he has given highly planned convention speeches in the past. Thursday’s speech started that way, but he soon detoured to give lengthy thanks to the speakers and attendees and then to engage the crowd with asides, impressions and sometimes hard-to-follow deviations.
Rating: 5