Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Minutes into the first session of the Republican National Convention's delegate meeting, the Fiserv Forum erupted with chants of “fight!”, a nod to the message Donald Trump sent to rallygoers after dodging a bullet that was meant to kill him.

The nod made it clear that the near-death attempt on Trump's mind just days earlier had been on everyone's mind. The assassination attempt, which left one person dead and two seriously injured, had the potential to delay the Republican National Convention. Trump himself acknowledged that he had considered skipping the first two days of the convention to calm down. But attendees told the Caller that the tragedy had the exact opposite effect.

“[The mood is] “The energy, the excitement, the anger, the fire. And if the election were today or next week, Trump would win. Donald J. Trump and whoever his running mate was, we would win in a landslide,” Pennsylvania delegate Mike McMullen, who witnessed Saturday's shooting, told the Caller. “He's going to win states that Republicans can't win.”

And it was energetic and exciting: Multiple guests at the Republican National Convention approached this reporter for no apparent reason, quickly conveying their enthusiasm and love for Trump, then grabbed someone else to spread the word even further.

“Fight” chants rang out at the Republican National Convention, a nod to President Trump's message after he escaped an assassination attempt on Saturday. Daily Caller pic.twitter.com/QUcS1D1898

— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) July 15, 2024

Before the “fight” chants rang out and the first session officially began, Republican National Committee co-chair Michael Whatley asked attendees to observe a moment of silence for the tragedy that occurred Saturday. During the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Secret Service officers rushed a bloodied Trump off the stage. A bullet grazed Trump's ear, but killed 50-year-old Corey Comperatore. (RELATED: 'Died a hero': Ex-volunteer fire chief identified by family as member of crowd killed at Trump rally)

The shooting has shocked the nation, but the tournament is going ahead.

“Looking back a week ago, this is not the atmosphere we had envisioned for our convention. But if there's any silver lining from what happened Saturday night, it's, number one, that the American people got to see a courageous American president at his weakest moment. He's taken the hits, he's taken the bullets, he's taken the fire, he's felt the blood, he's stood up and he says he's still ready, and he's not going to stop fighting for the people that actually put him there,” former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswami told reporters at the Heritage Foundation's Policy Festival. The event also began with a moment of silence for the tragedy.

A promotional video shown at Policy Fest included footage of Trump, who survived the assassination attempt, emerging from a crowd of Secret Service agents with his face covered in blood and his fist raised in the air. Marie Georgievsky Representative from Ohio, He told the Caller that some guests and delegates at the convention were inspired and moved to support Trump.

“Regardless of what you believe, I thought that was an inspiring moment. In fact, I spoke to President Trump that night, around 12:30 a.m., I think he was on his way out of the hospital, and frankly, the calm and strength he showed in that phone conversation was an inspiration to me, and I can only imagine the inspiration that it will hopefully give to all Americans,” Ramaswami continued.

The excitement may have been born out of anticipation about who Trump would choose as his vice president, as reports of potential candidates trickled in, leaving attendees to speculate about who he might choose.

“If not Rubio or Burgum, who do you think will be selected?” shouted one attendee.

The selection of his running mate brought a sense of unity to the convention amid widespread reaction to the assassination attempt on President Trump, after which Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he had chosen Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate.

“The party has never been more united, and when the party is united, President Trump will bring the country together,” New York Republican Party spokesman David Laska told the Caller.

“Everyone's talking about the vice president right now and more broadly, there's a palpable sense of excitement in the air. We know we're witnessing history and we can't wait for President Trump to take the stage,” he added.

President Joe Biden spoke three times since the attack on Trump, including from the Oval Office, where he urged Americans to tone down divisive political rhetoric. Biden, 81, was briefed on the shooting several times and then moved to increase Secret Service protection for Trump, himself and Vice President Kamala Harris. (RELATED: It took Biden 102 minutes to condemn the assassination attempt on Trump)

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told the Caller that convention attendees understood the gravity of the attack.

“I think the atmosphere is more serious. The implications of this election are serious, but also how fragile life is and when someone utters those words, damage can be done,” McCarthy said.

“Just think about the difference between being just a fingernail and President Trump not being alive today, and what impact would that have on the country as a whole? I think it's the responsibility of every American to take a deep breath and tone down the hyperbole. There are enough differences in the policies of these two men running for president that we can debate them,” he continued.

.Follow “What does it mean to be at the Republican National Convention today after this weekend's assassination attempt?” @SpeakerMcCarthy“I think the mood is more serious. You know not only the gravity of what this election means, but also how fragile life is.” pic.twitter.com/35as5td1tF

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 15, 2024

“There's a sense of relief, but I think there's also a sense of determination,” Matt Fischer, communications director for the Wisconsin Republican Party, told the Caller.

McMullen, who was just a few feet from the stage where Trump was shot on Saturday, may have stayed home after what he witnessed. His fear that something similar to what happened on Saturday could happen again may have led him to decide to skip the convention.

But he was never deterred.

“It sounds crazy, and I'm not saying he's crazy, but he stands up and gives a fist pump and a thumbs up. Who the hell does that?” he told the caller.

“This is a sign of Donald J. Trump's plight and his determination. Donald J. Trump is going to win Pennsylvania,” McMullen continued. “And you know, Pennsylvania is the Keystone State. If you win Pennsylvania, you win the whole thing.”