Miracles & divine intervention as Trump made second public appearance
If Monday was the resurrection, with talk of miracles and divine intervention when a bandaged Trump made his first public appearance after being shot, then Tuesday was the healing. At the second day of the Republican convention in Milwaukee, the former president was lauded by former opponents who months ago called him unhinged or rubbished his election prospects. 'America has an amazing ability to self-correct,' said Nikki Haley, Trump's last primary opponent. 'In this moment, we have a chance to put aside our differences and focus on what unites us and strengthens our country.' It was healing. Up to a point.
Boos rang through the arena when the former South Carolina governor walked on to the red, white and blue convention stage. They were quickly drowned out by the determined applause of other delegates who wanted to hear her speak. This after all was not a decorum-busting rally crowd of the MAGA base, but state delegations made up of elected officials and party workers who know what it takes to win the election in November.
So they roared their approval when Haley offered her 'strong endorsement' of Trump. He was watching proceedings from the 'family suite,' son Eric on one side, running mate Sen. J.D. Vance . Leslie Rossi was not among the cheerers. She stood in silence. 'Don't talk to me about that woman,' said the Pennsylvania delegate, famous the world over as the proprietor of Trump House, a merchandise store and meeting place.
Rossi couldn't forgive her for walking on Trump during his administration, when she served two years as permanent representative to the United Nations. 'She's a quitter,' she said. But for the most part Haley charmed the crowd. It was almost an audition for a new role under Trump as she set about appealing to the undecideds to put aside their doubts about the former president, just as she had. 'Our country was respected when Donald Trump was our commander-in-chief,' she said. ' Joe Biden has failed this country.'
Trump sat with his eyes slitted for the start of the address, looking impassive, much as he did when he was on trial in New York. But even he was won over, standing at times to clap and looking moved by her endorsement, eyes brimming with gratitude. There were no boos when she finished just cheers and applause. It was not exactly deafening, but it least the crowd did not stand and turn their backs on her as they did to Sen. Ted Cruz after he had fought Trump to the bitter end for the nomination eight years ago. Everything changed on Saturday, when an assassin's bullet sliced through Trump's ear.
A different Trump has been on display at the convention, flashing a new mix of gratitude and vulnerability. For the second night running he was received with a thunderous roar, which he returned with a clenched fist salute. 'When we get the president walking in it's like God Almighty walking in,' said George Bochetto, an alternate delegate from Pennsylvania. He was not alone in seeing something spiritual unfold. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, governor of Arkansas and his former press secretary, said Trump's survival was a reminder that God was not finished with the nation. His daughter-in-law Lara Trump quoted Proverbs: 'The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.'
In front of her delegates mingled in the aisles. Two were dressed as American troops from the Revolutionary War. Brick Suit guy, known for his wall patterned suit, was in his usual spot with the California delegation. The Texas delegates were easily spotted in their Stetsons and giant belt buckles. One man matched a seersucker suit with a top hat adorned with an image of Lincoln. And one trendsetter arrived with his ear patched up with paper in a homage to Trump. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis followed Haley on to the stage to offer confession and seek absolution. His war on woke put him on firmer ground with the faithful, and he was rewarded with on a heartier welcome. 'Donald Trump has been demonized, he's been sued, he’s been prosecuted — and he nearly lost his life,' he said. He also provided one of the biggest laughs.
America cannot afford four more years of a "Weekend at Bernie's" presidency,' he said, referencing a comedy about two friends trying to pretend their murdered employer was still alive. Trump loved it, throwing back his head and laughing heartily. Other moments were more somber. One of themes of the night was insecurity, with speeches from a mother who lost her 15-year-old son to fentanyl, a man whose sister was killed by an illegal immigrant, and a mother who felt powerless when two of the people accused of killing her son were let off by the Manhattan attorney general.
The crowd erupted in the loudest boos of the night when Madeline Brame named the prosecutor, Alvin Bragg. He was the prosecutor in Trump's hush money case and a hate figure among Republicans. It was a reminder that Trump's new found focus on unity runs only so far. When one of the themes of the night is attacking Democrats for failing the nation on public safety, there is little room for a message of national unity.
At a time when the nation's polarization is fueling worries that political violence is on the rise, the convention is about uniting around Trump to better defeat President Joe Biden. The boos for Haley were nothing to worry about, said Leigh Brown, from North Carolina who sported red Republican elephants on her earrings. Nothing but the remnants of a bitter primary that would be forgotten in time. 'I think there's just some hurt feelings,' she said.
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