Donald Trump received a resounding welcome at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in the United States on Thursday (local time) and formally accepted the Republican Party's presidential nomination.
"Tonight, with faith and devotion, I proudly accept your nomination for the President of the United States," Trump said in his first speech after surviving the assassination attempt.
Trump said he stood before the 2024 RNC with "a message of confidence, strength and hope".
"Four months from now, we will have an incredible victory and we will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country. Together, we will launch a new era of safety, prosperity and freedom for citizens of every race, religion, colour and creed," the 78-year-old former US President said.
He said that the "discord and division" in the society must be healed quickly. "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," Trump said in his historic speech.
The crowd at the 2024 RNC chanted and cheered for Trump as he accepted the nomination. People were heard chanting 'Trump, Trump, Trump' with all the energy at the convention.
TRUMP TALKS ABOUT ASSASSINATION BID
Trump had narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania, with a bullet grazing his right ear. Even at the RNC 2024, Trump was making his speech with a white bandage on his ear.
Talking about the bid in his speech on Thursday, Trump expressed gratitude to the "American people for your outpouring of love and support following the assassination attempt at my rally on Saturday".
Noting that the assassin's bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking his life, Trump said that he had "God on his side" that he survived.
Trump also remembered Corey Comperatore, the former Buffalo Township fire chief, who was killed by a bullet at his rally on July 13, when the assassination bid was made on the Republican leader.
He asked the people at the convention to observe a moment of silence in his honour.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD
Trump said that despite that "heinous" assassination attempt on him, the people stand united at the 2024 RNC with more determination than ever.
"Our resolve is unbroken, and our purpose is unchanged--to deliver a government that serves the American People. Everything I have to give, with all of the energy and fight in my heart and soul, I pledge to our nation tonight," he said.
He noted that the November elections should be about the issues America is facing and how to make the country successful, safe, free and great again.
“In an age when our politics too often divide us, now is the time to remember that we are all fellow citizens—we are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. On this journey, I am deeply honoured to be joined by my amazing wife, Melania. Thank you, Melania, and thank you also for your beautiful letter to America calling for national unity. It captivated so many,” he said.
THRILLED TO HAVE NEW FRIEND, PARTNER
Donald Trump addressed his running mate and Ohio Senator JD Vance and said that he was thrilled to have a new friend and partner fighting by his side. He also appreciated Vance's wife Usha.
He told Vance to gear up as he would be making for a great vice president, telling him that "you will be doing this for a long time now".
WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
The Republican presidential four months from now, the greatest years in the history of America will begin.
“Nothing will sway us. Nothing will slow us. And no one will stop us. No matter what dangers come our way, no matter what obstacles lie in our path, we will keep striving toward our shared and glorious destiny — and we will not fail," Trump said.
He reiterated that together with the citizens, they will save the country, they will restore the Republic and will usher the rich and wonderful future that Americans truly deserve.
"We will make America a great nation again, we will make America great again," he said.
TRUMP SLAMS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
"Under the current administration, we are indeed a nation in decline," Trump said while hitting out at President Joe Biden's administration.
He pledged to the people of America that he will end the devastating inflation crisis and take stringent actions to put an end to the illegal immigrant issues.
"Drill baby, drill! We will close our borders," Trump said. We want people to come to our country, he said, but "legally".
He said that he was the first president in the modern age to not have started any new wars.
“There was peace in Europe and the Middle East. Under President Bush, Russia invaded Georgia. Under President Obama, Russia took Crimea. Under the current administration, Russia is after all of Ukraine. Under President Trump, Russia took nothing. We defeated 100 per cent of ISIS in Syria and Iraq, something that was going to take five years, and I did it in two months. I stopped the missile launches from North Korea,” Trump said at RNC 2024.
He said that the opponents inherited a world at peace and turned it into a planet of war.
“It began to unravel with the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the worst humiliation in the history of our country. 13 heroic US service members were tragically and needlessly killed, 45 others were horrifically wounded, and $85 billion dollars’ worth of military equipment was left behind, along with many American citizens,” he said.
He said that this disaster emboldened Russia to invade Ukraine and Israel also endured the worst attack in the history.
“Now China is circling Taiwan, and Russian warships and nuclear submarines are operating 60 miles off our coasts in Cuba, and the media doesn’t want to talk about it,” he said.
TRUMP'S WARNING TO US ADVERSARIES
Giving a stern warning to the adversaries of the US, Trump said, "We want our hostages back and they better be back before I assume office, or you will be paying a very big price. With our victory in November, the years of war, weakness and chaos will be over."
He said that his government will ensure that no enemy can strike the homeland. “We will replenish our military, and build an Iron Dome Missile Defense System to ensure that no enemy can strike our homeland—and this great Iron Dome will all be Made in the USA," Trump said.
Listing American innovation's powers, he said the nation will soon be on its final stages of finding cures to cancer, Alzheimer's and many other diseases.
"We will restore and renovate our nation’s once-great cities, making them SAFE, clean, and beautiful again–and that includes our nation’s capital in Washington D.C. We will be proud of our capital again,” he said.
“America is on the cusp of a new Golden Age, but we must have the courage to seize it,” Trump said.
