Written By Lisa Murimi
With a bandage over one ear, Donald Trump made a triumphant return to the public eye at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday evening, just two days after surviving an assassination attempt.
The former president received a rapturous welcome from thousands of supporters, entering the arena with a raised fist as “God Bless the USA” played.
Trump slowly walked through cheering crowds of delegates, some with tears in their eyes, greeting key political allies and members of his family, including three of his children.
Melania Trump was notably absent. The audience chanted “Fight! Fight! Fight!” echoing Trump’s rallying cry after a bullet grazed his ear at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.
Riding a wave of political momentum, Trump remains the Republican nominee for the November presidential election. This comes amid increasing scrutiny of Joe Biden’s candidacy following a poor debate performance and Trump’s recent legal victories.
At the convention, Trump sat next to his newly announced running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, and listened to speeches for about an hour, occasionally mouthing “Thank you, everybody” to the crowd.
The first day of the convention was eventful, with Trump’s appearance and the announcement of his vice-presidential pick. Earlier, a federal judge dismissed criminal charges against Trump related to classified documents, further boosting his campaign.
Republican delegates formally nominated Trump as their candidate during a roll call vote, while Democrats criticized Vance’s views and ties to big tech.
