Trump changing GOP convention speech to stress importance of unity after Pennsylvania rally shooting
Former President Donald Trump revealed Sunday that he’s altering his upcoming speech at the Republican National Convention and his remarks will focus on uniting the country after he survived an assassination attempt.
The 45th president told The Post Sunday he “threw away” an “extremely tough speech” to make way for the new approach following Saturday’s shooting at his Pennsylvania rally.
Trump, 78, will deliver the speech Thursday when he formally accepts the Republican Party’s nomination for president at the convention.
“I want to try to unite our country,” he said aboard his private jet en route to Milwaukee. “But I don’t know if that’s possible. People are very divided.”
“I had all prepared an extremely tough speech, really good, all about the corrupt, horrible administration,” he told The Post in reference to the Biden White House. “But I threw it away.”
Trump was nearly killed at the rally when a gunman shot him in the ear.
One rallygoer was killed and two others were wounded in the gunfire.
Trump said policy positions that focus on immigration and transgender Americans might make mending the country’s divide a difficult feat.
“Some people want open borders, some don’t,” he said.
“Some want men to be able to play on women’s sports teams, and others don’t,” he said, stressing that success will be the ultimate unifier.
Biden, 81, has pushed a similar message of unity, including from the Oval Office Sunday night when he stated, “We are not enemies.”
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’- Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities’ radar more than 90 minutes before shooting: report
- FBI to conduct victim interview with Donald Trump after assassination attempt
- Ex-Trump doc says FBI’s Wray is ‘wrong’ to doubt ex-prez was struck by bullet: ‘Absolutely no evidence’
- Trump defends female Secret Service agent who was criticized after assassination attempt: ‘So brave’
“We are neighbors, we are friends, co-workers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together,” the president said.
Additional reporting by David Propper