The crowd erupted late Monday night as Donald Trump made his first appearance at the Republican National Convention wearing bandages for the first time since Saturday's shooting.
Last weekend, Trump was grazed by a bullet in his ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. Now officially the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, he was hailed as a hero at the Republican National Convention on Monday night.
The video shows Trump making a grand entrance surrounded by a line of men forming a barrier between the Republican candidate and the crowd of delegates. A square white bandage covers his right ear, which Trump earlier acknowledged is missing part of the ear from the gunshot wound.
“Fight! Fight! Fight!” the crowd cheered, imitating the chants Trump chanted as Secret Service escorted him off the stage after he was shot.
president Donald Trump Arriving on the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/j0VKPgrP0v
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) July 16, 2024
— Posts from Donald J. Trump's Truthful Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 16, 2024
Trump appeared to be moved and beaming as musician Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless America.” Additional footage shows Trump standing surrounded by allies and family members as the crowd chant “America! America! America!”
America! America! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/6MCkl6x674
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) July 16, 2024
Hours before the speech, President Trump announced that he had chosen Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate.
Trump New York Post The Republican candidate said Sunday that he “should have died,” saying it felt “very surreal” that he was shot and that many people believe his survival was “an act of God.” (RELATED: 'Luckiest Motherfucker': Bill Maher Says It 'Doesn't Matter' Who Democrats Run After Trump Assassination Attempt)
Funniest moment of the night. Look at that smile on President Trump's face.pic.twitter.com/KMdiuRiKOR
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePress) July 16, 2024
Trump “threw away” his prepared policy speech after the assassination attempt, the Washington Examiner first reported. reportTrump said he changed his statement because he wanted to “unite the country.”
President Trump is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention on Thursday.
