Trump Makes First Public Appearance Since Assassination Attempt

WASHINGTON – Former US President Donald Trump was greeted with a standing ovation on the opening night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The four-day convention began with Trump’s formal nomination as the party’s presidential nominee for November’s election, just two days after a failed assassination attempt on him.

The crowd cheered wildly as he walked from backstage to the convention floor to watch a live version of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” with a white bandage over his right ear.

After greeting supporters who chanted “USA! USA!” and “Fight! Fight! Fight!” Trump climbed the stairs to the VIP section.

He stands flanked by his new running mate as vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds and journalist Tucker Carlson on his right.

Trump named JD Vance as his vice presidential nominee but did not address the convention on Monday (7/15/2024).

He is expected to deliver a speech, which he revised after the shooting, on the final day of the meeting on Thursday.

“I shouldn’t be here; I should be dead,” Trump said in an interview with the New York Post on Sunday.

The former president said he had prepared a “very strong speech… all about corrupt and terrible government” for the Milwaukee event, but “threw it away” after the assassination attempt.

“I want to try to unite our country… but I don’t know if that’s possible. Society is so divided,” he said.

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