Sealed with a kiss: Melania and Donald share tender moment as family joins them on stage after former first lady broke with tradition... and one key member is missing
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- READ MORE: Trump recounts moment he was wounded by an assassin's bullet
Three generations of Donald Trump's family surrounded him on stage after he accepted the Republican nomination during a marathon speech recounting the horrifying moment he was shot by a would-be assassin.
Melania Trump came up behind her husband - still with a bandage on his ear - on stage then got a kiss on the cheek at the end of a historic night just days after he came within inches of losing his life.
The 77-year-old's 93-minute speech, a record in modern history, started by recounting the moment where he was within a 'quarter of an inch' of being killed and reliving the amount of blood that spilled on his face.
But after the somber opening of his address on 'unity', he returned to his trademark attacks on President Joe Biden, old enemies and his border and economic policies.
He joked about the 'late, great' Hannibal Lecter when riffing about immigration, said Kim Jong-un missed him and re-upped his promise to end taxes on tips from cheers from the crowd.
Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric, Tiffany and their significant others then came out on stage to cheers from the crowd as balloons fell from the arena's ceiling and Puccini's Nessun Dorma played.
The Trump grandkids tossed the red, white, blue and gold balloons around as they bounced on the stage.
But one family member was notably missing: the 6'7' Barron Trump.
Donald and Melania Trump share a tender moment at the end of his Republican convention speech as his family joined him on stage
Balloons rain down after Donald Trump's acceptance speech
Donald Trump did mention his youngest son during his remarks but Barron was not seated in the family's box. He was originally selected as a convention delegate from Florida but Melania's office later announced Barron would not serve as he had a 'prior commitment.'
His absence was notable, particularly after he attended one of his father's campaign rallies earlier this month, where he stood and waved to the crowd.
Melania has been fiercely protective of her only son throughout her husband's political career.
But Don Jr.'s and Eric's children were present. Kai Trump, 17, became the breakout star of the convention after she addressed the convention on Wednesday night, paying a sweet tribute to her grandfather.
On Thursday, it was the turn of Eric's daughter Carolina, four, as she stole the show when she sat on Trump's lap while Eric addressed the delegates.
At one point Carolina had her thumb in her mouth as her father spoke. Her older brother Eric Luke, 6, joined in on cheering on their dad as he sat on mom Lara's lap.
As well as Barron, Ivanka and Jared's three children - Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore - were also missing rom the action.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, basked in the adoration of the delegates after he wrapped up his one hour and 32 minute speech.
He started off with a dramatic retelling of the assassination attempt on his life.
'If I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin's bullet would have perfectly hit its mark,' he said.
'And I would not be here tonight. We would not be together.'
The nominee then rambled, going off the teleprompter, to slam Nancy Pelosi and name-check rival Joe Biden.
The delegates in the hall appeared restless with many taking their seats and taking out their phones. A few fell asleep.
The newly-anointed Republican nominee for president and his wife share a tender moment on stage after his marathon speech
Trump appeared to be shocked when Melania came on stage at the end of his speech
Melania smiles as the Donald leans in to give her a kiss while placing his hand on the lectern
Trump is joined on stage by wife Melania, Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance, Usha Chilukuri Vance, Donald Trump Jr., Kai Trump, Donald Trump III, and Spencer Trump
Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump are joined by the rest of the Trump family and Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance
Melania Trump joins Donald Trump on stage after his remarks
Trump and Melania and running mate J.D. Vance and his wife Usha smile at the crowd after his speech
One of Trump's grandsons plays with the balloons at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention
The family affair was notable by the absence of Barron Trump
Trump failed to bring up abortion, an issue that has bedeviled Republicans ever since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federally guaranteed right to abortion two years ago.
Nor did he mention the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in which Trump supporters tried to stop the certification of his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has long referred to the people jailed for the riot as 'hostages.'
They rallied for the grand finale however, roaring their approval as the Trump family took the stage to wave as balloons rained down around them.
Since the assassination attempt on him on July 13th, Trump has had his family at his side.
Most of them were on hand Thursday night to see him crowned as the Republican presidential nominee.
His children walked onto the convention floor with him.
Later, Melania Trump, in a bright red skirt suit by Dior, made a dramatic entrance, walking into the arena to cheers and the music from Beethoven's symphony no. 9.
She was introduced to the roaring crowd as the future first lady.
Melania only joined the convention on its last night, taking her seat in the Trump family box shortly before Donald began his remarks.
Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner also only attended on Thursday night, marking their first appearances in the campaign having stepped back from their key roles in the the former Apprentice host's inner political circle.
Ivanka has said that while she supports her father, she will not be campaigning for him.
Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance applauds and Melania smiles just as she arrives to take her seat
Trump pumps his fist with his 17-year-old granddaughter Kai in the background
The Trump family, including some of his eleven grandchildren' swarm the stage to greet the cheering Milwaukee crowd
The traditional balloon dropped ended the convention
Donald Trump after his acceptance speech
The delegates rose to their feet and cheered
The couple joined Don Jr. and Tiffany in the family box to sit with their father while Eric Trump addressed the crowd.
Both Don Jr. - who addressed the convention on Wednesday - and Eric have been surrogates on the campaign trail. Eric's wife Lara joined the leadership of Republican National Committee to help run the former president's re-election effort.
The former president was surrounded by his children and grandchildren as he prepared to address the delegates.
His family - except for Barron, and Ivanka and Jared's three children - was on hand while he spoke.
Melania sat quietly during his speech, listening as he described the assassination attempt that nearly took his life. She smiled when he made little jokes but stared at her husband intently as he recounted the horrific event.
Donald paid tribute to her during his remarks, calling her 'my amazing wife Melania.' She stood and waved as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.
'Melania thank you very much. You also did something very beautiful. A letter to America calling for national unity,' he said.
He also thanked the rest of his family.
Donald Trump surrounded by his wife and children
Former President Donald Trump, Lara Trump, Eric Luke Trump, and Carolina Dorothy Trump watch Eric Trump address the convention
As Usha Chilukuri Vance, Ivanka Trump former first lady Melania Trump and Eric Trump watch, Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, sign paperwork to officially accept the nomination
Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, former White House senior adviser, Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos, attend the final day of the Republican National Convention
Melania Trump makes her dramatic entrance into the convention
Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan wowed the crowd with a display of physical strength
Melania, who rarely makes public statements, spoke to the horror when she realized her and son Barron's life were on the brink of 'devastating change' after the hearing the news about her husband's assassination attempt.
The former first lady called the gunman a 'monster' and described the moment she watched the bullet strike her husband's ear at a Pennsylvania rally in front of thousands of his adoring fans.
'A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald's passion - his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,' Melania said in an emotional statement on X on Sunday morning.
'When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron's life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.'
She called for people to 'reunite' and said she is thinking of her fellow Americans.
'This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence,' her statement continued.
'The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide - thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.'
Trump barely mentioned Biden, often referring only to the 'current administration.'
'It was Donald Trump who destroyed our economy, ripped away rights, and failed middle class families,' said Jen O'Malley Dillon, the Biden campaign chair, in a statement after the speech.
Trump's Deputy Director of Communications, Margo Martin, shared images and video of the former President and his wife departing the RNC and arriving back at home
Melania and Donald were seen making their way off the Republican candidate's plane, which has been nicknamed Trump Force One
Trump waved at his supporters as he and Melania made their way onto the aircraft
'Now he pursues the presidency with an even more extreme vision for where he wants to take this country.'
Trump's appearance came as Biden, the 81-year-old Democratic incumbent, clings to his party's presumptive nomination in the face of unrelenting pressure from key congressional allies, donors and even former President Barack Obama, who fear he may be unable to win reelection after his disastrous debate.
Hours before the balloons were scheduled to rain down on Trump and his family inside the convention hall, Biden deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks appeared nearby in Milwaukee and insisted over and over that Biden would not step aside.
'I do not want to be rude, but I don't know how many more times I can answer that,' Fulks told reporters. 'There are no plans being made to replace Biden on the ballot.'
Thursday's RNC program seemed designed to project strength and masculinity in an implicit rebuke of Biden.
Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White called Trump 'a real American bad ass.' Kid Rock performed a song with the chorus, 'Fight, fight!,' echoing the word Trump mouthed on stage in Pennsylvania as Secret Service agents surrounded him.
And wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, marking his first appearance for Trump, he was not present during the 2016 campaign as he was in a period of exile after a video leaked of him using the N-word repeatedly in reference to a man who was dating his daughter, described the former president as 'an American hero.'
After the convention, Trump heads to Detroit for a campaign rally on Saturday.
Ivanka Trump has said she supports her father but won't formally campaign for him.
It is unclear when or if Melania Trump will appear on the campaign trail.
What Trump said about the July 13 assassination attempt
Trump spoke at length about the assassination attempt on July 13
'So many people have asked me what happened, and therefore, I’ll tell you what happened, and you’ll never hear it from me a second time, because it’s too painful to tell.
It was a warm, beautiful day in the early evening in Butler Township in the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Music was loudly playing, and the campaign was doing well.
I went to the stage, and the crowd was cheering wildly. I began speaking very happily because I was discussing the great job my administration did on immigration at the southern border.
Behind me and to the right was a large screen that was displaying a chart of border crossings under my leadership.
The numbers were amazing. In order to see the chart, I started to turn to my right, and was ready to begin a further turn, which I’m lucky I didn’t, when I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me, really hard, on my right ear.
I said to myself, “Wow, what was that—it can only be a bullet,”—and moved my right hand to my ear, brought it down, and my hand was covered with blood.
I immediately knew it was very serious, that we were under attack, and in one movement, proceeded to drop to the ground.
Bullets continued to fly as very brave Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and pounced on top of me for protection.
There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way I felt very safe, because I had God on my side.
The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had NOT moved my head at the very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be with you tonight.
The most incredible aspect of what took place on that terrible evening in the fading sun was seen later. In almost all cases, and when even a single bullet is fired—and we had many—crowds run for the exits or stampede, but not in this case.
This massive crowd of tens of thousands of people stood by and didn’t move an inch. In fact, many of them bravely, but automatically, stood up looking for where the sniper would be, and then began pointing at him.
Nobody ran, and by not stampeding, many lives were saved. But that isn’t the reason they didn’t move—the reason is that they knew I was in serious trouble, they saw all of the blood, and thought I was dead, and they just didn’t want to leave me, and you can see that love written all over their faces.
Bullets were flying over us, yet I felt serene—but now the Secret Service agents were putting themselves in peril. And then it all stopped. Our Secret Service sniper, from a much greater distance, and with only one bullet, took the assassin out.
I am not supposed to be here tonight. I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God. Many people say it was a providential moment.
When I rose, surrounded by Secret Service, the crowd was confused because they thought I was dead, and there was great sorrow on their faces until I raised my right arm, looked at the thousands of people that were breathlessly waiting, and started shouting FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT.
Once my clenched fist went up, high into the air, the crowd realized I was okay, and roared with pride for our country, like no crowd I have ever heard before.
For the rest of my life, I will be grateful for the love shown by that giant audience of patriots that stood bravely on that fateful evening in Pennsylvania.'
