Donald Trump made a return to the Republican National Convention on Tuesday with the aim of unifying the party, as his former rivals for the nomination hailed him as the official candidate for the US presidency.
Three of his past opponents appeared separately during prime time to publicly endorse the former president. This included former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who emphasized the importance of a unified Republican Party for the nation’s sake.
Trump, sporting a bandage on his ear from a recent assassination attempt, greeted the audience and expressed his gratitude as they applauded.
Although he did not deliver a speech, Trump interacted with his new running mate J.D. Vance and other attendees, appearing more relaxed than the previous night.
The four-day convention has been a celebration of Trump, leading up to his formal nomination acceptance on Thursday to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the upcoming election.
Despite efforts to show a unified front on Tuesday, some boos were heard when Haley spoke, indicating that the party still had work to do to unite its supporters for the campaign ahead.
Haley, who had clashed with Trump during the primary, unequivocally endorsed him on Tuesday.
– ‘Unite this country’ –
Other former challengers, such as Florida governor Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, also expressed their support for Trump, emphasizing his ability to unify the nation.
While Haley had been critical of Trump in the past, her endorsement may encourage her supporters to back Trump in the election.
The convention also addressed the recent assassination attempt on Trump, with speakers calling for political unity and prayers for the president’s safety.
– ‘God spared president Trump’ –
Ahead of the election, Trump announced Vance as his running mate. Vance, a US senator from Ohio and a former critic turned supporter, is set to speak at the convention on Wednesday.
With a focus on divine intervention in Trump’s safety, speakers highlighted the belief that God protected him from harm in the assassination attempt.
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