--- title: America Met a New, Kinder Trump—Then He Kept Talking description: Trump recounted in vivid detail the shooting that nearly took his life. Then he kept talking. canonical: https://time.com/7000357/donald-trump-rnc-speech/ author: Eric Cortellessa article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-07-19T06:43:56.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:03:27.919Z article:section: Politics og:title: America Met a New, Gentler Trump—Then He Kept Talking og:description: Trump began his convention speech recounting in vivid detail the shooting that nearly took his life. Then he kept talking. og:url: https://time.com/7000357/donald-trump-rnc-speech/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt57d401fd76a2b184/698a58f3cabb1d4e76e54558/GettyImages-2161994990.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: The 2024 Republican National Convention og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: America Met a New, Gentler Trump—Then He Kept Talking twitter:description: Trump began his convention speech recounting in vivid detail the shooting that nearly took his life. Then he kept talking. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt57d401fd76a2b184/698a58f3cabb1d4e76e54558/GettyImages-2161994990.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # America Met a New, Kinder Trump—Then Came the Rest of the Speech > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=84298366-e198-4772-991a-8ca69fcf6121&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Donald Trump Outlines Policy Proposals As He Accepts the Nomination at the RNC [Watch (HLS stream): Donald Trump Outlines Policy Proposals As He Accepts the Nomination at the RNC](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/uLiqxCkk.m3u8) (4:55)  _Published 2024-07-19. Donald Trump used his speech at the Republican National Convention Thursday night to outline a few policy proposals during his speech, drawing a contrast with the Biden Administration over the economy, immigration, and foreign policy._  by [Eric Cortellessa/Milwaukee](https://time.com/author/eric-cortellessa/)  ## Eric Cortellessa/Milwaukee Senior Correspondent Jul 19, 2024 6:43 AM UTC  Former President Donald Trump addressed the Republican National Convention for well over an hour at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, on July 18, 2024 Former President Donald Trump addressed the Republican National Convention for well over an hour at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, on July 18, 2024 Al Drago—Bloomberg via Getty Images  by [Eric Cortellessa/Milwaukee](https://time.com/author/eric-cortellessa/)  ## Eric Cortellessa/Milwaukee Senior Correspondent Jul 19, 2024 6:43 AM UTC Donald Trump’s allies said he had emerged from his assassination attempt a changed man, rewriting his Republican National Convention speech to call for national unity. As he began his one hour and thirty-three minute address Thursday night,it seemed that vision was coming to pass. Trump recounted in vivid detail the shooting that nearly took his life. “There was blood pouring everywhere and yet in a certain way I felt very safe because I had God on my side,” he said. “I’m not supposed to be here tonight.” The epilogue of his survival tale was a plea for Americans to come together. “The discord and division in our society must be healed,” he said. “We must heal it quickly.” But once he concluded the choreographed spectacle, Trump transitioned back to the Trump we all know. He falsely accused the left of stealing the 2020 election. He called the former Democratic Speaker of the House “crazy Nancy Pelosi.” He said U.S. cities were “flooded with illegal aliens.” He portrayed President Joe Biden’s America as a dystopian hellscape on the verge of irreversible decline. “The damage Biden has done,” Trump said. “I will only use the word once. I won’t use the word again.” It was a reminder that Trump remains the same guy, with the same grievances and fixations. Even as he gestured toward conciliation, he maintained his brand of full-throttle politics that has transformed the Republican Party. That was largely a consequence of impulse: Trump’s attacks and provocative asides were not written into the speech. When he improvised, Trump converted what was supposed to be an unconventional convention speech into a MAGA rally. When he stuck to the teleprompter, he was faithful to a message of coast-to-coast cohesion. “I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America,” Trump said, “because there is no victory in winning for half of America.” Trump’s speech came at a moment of uncertainty. Since Biden’s disastrous debate performance last month, calls for him to drop out by Democrats have swelled. The revolt seemed to [freeze](https://time.com/7000126/biden-dilemma-replace-drop-out/) after the Trump rally shooting, but on Thursday it began to pick up steam. Party leaders such as Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi have reportedly encouraged him to step aside. The _New York Times_ [reported](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/us/politics/dnc-biden-nomination.html) hours before Trump took the stage that Biden was “more receptive” to relinquishing power. (The Biden campaign says he won’t bow out of the race.) Trump, in other words, had another reason to mention Biden’s name only once. The sitting President may not be his ultimate opponent. The accelerating Democratic panic marked a stark contrast to the scene on the floor of Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. Trump’s latest triumph left his supporters elated. They were dancing in conga lines between speeches. They often shouted “Fight! Fight! Fight!,” echoing Trump’s chants to the Pennsylvania crowd after being shot. Some wore bandages on their right ears in a show of solidarity. Trump fed off an audience that recognizes his return to the White House is well within grasp: He’s currently leading in most polls; Biden’s standing in swing states has fallen sharply since the debate; and the attempt on Trump’s life gave him a fresh wave of momentum. In his speech, Trump recognized the hand he’d been dealt. For someone who so often blames others, he seems to know that his greatest obstacle to a second term could be himself. “I better finish strong,” he said. “Otherwise we’ll blow it and I can’t let it happen.” Trump concluded the confab on a triumphant note. He’s on the cusp of an unprecedented political comeback, both for himself and the right-wing populist movement he spawned. Thursday night was a moment few could imagine on Jan. 7, 2021, a day after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. “Nothing will sway us, nothing will slow us, and nothing will ever stop us,” he said. To that end, his speech reaffirmed something many had suspected: No matter what, Trump will always be Trump. ## Transcript Monday, a major ruling was handed down from a highly respected federal judge in Florida, Ilen Cannon, finding that the prosecutor and the fake documents case against me were totally unconstitutional, and the entire case was thrown out of court. With all of that publicity, thrown out of court. If Democrats want to unify our country, they should drop these partisan witch hunts, which I have been going through for approximately eight years. And they should do that without delay and allow an election to proceed that isy of our people. We're gonna win it anyway. On this journey, I am deeply honored to be joined by my amazing wife, Melania. And Mania, thank you very much. You also did something really beautiful, a letter to America calling for National Unity, and it really took the Republican Party by surprise. I will tell you, it was beautiful. But I'm thrilled to have a new friend and partner fighting by my side. The next Vice President of the United States, the current Senator from Ohio, JD Vance and his incredible wife, Oha And he's gonna be with us for a long time, and it was an honor to select him, great, great student at Yale. His wife was a great student at Yale. They met at. Yale. These are two smart people. So, JD, you're gonna be doing this for a long time. Enjoy the ride. If you took the ten worst presidents in the history of the United States, think of it. The ten worst added them up. They will not have done the damage that Biden has done. Only going to use the term once. Biden. I'm not going to use the name anymore, just one time. The damage that he's done to this country is unthinkable. It's unthinkable. Under this administration, our current administration, groceries are up 57%, gasoline is up 60 and 70%. Mortgage rates have quadrupled. And the fact is, it doesn't matter what they are because you can't get the money anyway. Can't buy houses. Young people can't get any financing to buy a house. The total household costs have increased on average of $28,000 per family under this administration. Republicans have a plan to bring down prices and bring them down very, very rapidly. By slashing energy costs, we will in turn reduce the cost of transportation, manufacturing and all household goods. So much starts with energy. And remember, we have more liquid gold under our feet than any other country, by far, we are a nation that has the opportunity to make an absolute fortune with its energy. We have it, and China does it. Under the Trump administration just 3.5 years ago, we were energy independent, but soon we will actually be better than that. We will be energy dominant and supply not only ourselves, but we will supply the rest of the world. So to conclude, Just a few short days ago, my journey with you nearly ended. We know that. And yet here we are tonight all gathered together, talking about the future promise, and a total renewal of a thing we love very much. It's called America. We live in a world of miracles. None of us knows God's plan or where life's adventure will take us. And quite simply, we will very quickly make America great again. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Wisconsin. God bless you. God bless you, Wisconsin, and God bless the United States of America, our great country. Thank you very much, everybody. 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