RNC Day 4: Trump delivers longest acceptance speech in history

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Last updated: Friday, July 19, 2024 4:39AM GMT
Trump pitches unity, but revives old grievances in nomination acceptance speech
Former President Donald Trump pitched unity but revived old grievances in his nomination acceptance speech.

MILWAUKEE -- On the fourth and final day of the Republican National Convention, former President Donald Trump gave a highly anticipated speech, which he said beforehand would call for unity following his assassination attempt.

However in his first speech since the incident, Trump leaned into his usual talking points, slamming President Joe Biden, Democrats and other critics on a wide variety of issues from the economy, immigration and crime.

For over an hour, Trump went off script much to the crowd's delight. The former president told them he was grateful for their support after his brush with death but argued that the country needed to be fixed due to Biden's policies.

The night also included wild speeches from guests such as Hulk Hogan and Eric Trump, who echoed some of the former president's rhetoric bashing Biden and the Democrats.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
KTRK logo
Jul 18, 2024, 1:15 PM GMT

Schedule released for Day 4 of RNC

Former First Lady Melania Trump is scheduled to arrive at the arena around the 8 p.m. CT, publicly joining former President Donald Trump on a major campaign event for the first time this election cycle.

Donald Trump is scheduled to take the stage at 9:02 p.m. CT.

Other notable speakers include:
8:35PM CT / 9:35PM ET - Eric Trump
5:58PM CT / 6:58PM ET - Sen. Steve Daines
6:02PM CT / 7:02PM ET - Rep. Richard Hudson
6:13PM CT / 7:13PM ET - Diane Hendricks
6:29PM CT / 7:29PM ET - Linda McMahon
6:34PM CT / 7:34PM ET - Mike Pompeo
6:58PM CT / 7:58PM ET - Steve Witkoff
7:21PM CT / 8:21PM ET - Alina Habba
7:28PM CT / 8:28PM ET - Tucker Carlson
8:53PM CT / 9:53PM ET - Dana White

WLS logo
Jul 18, 2024, 12:04 PM GMT

Milwaukee mayor hopes RNC will 'elevate' city

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson is a Democrat, but he pushed hard for his city to host the Republican National Convention.

"I am a Democrat, like I said, I am going to the DNC next month and I am proudly going to cast my ballot to support President Joe Biden and his re-election," Mayor Johnson said. "That's on the political end. On the business end, I am looking at this as an opportunity to elevate Milwaukee, to bring economic development, to bring economic impact here."

The Republican National Convention is estimated to bring in $200 million in revenue for Milwaukee.

Next month, the Milwaukee mayor will be coming to Chicago, where he will serve as a delegate at the DNC.

AP logo
Jul 18, 2024, 11:26 AM GMT

Trump says he's rewritten his remarks

Republicans throughout the week in Milwaukee have suggested the combative former president take a gentler tone in light of the shooting and have suggested the crisis provides a chance to de-escalate the divisive political rhetoric that has marked the 2024 campaign.

Trump told the Washington Examiner that he had rewritten his acceptance speech in the wake of the Saturday shooting, emphasizing a call for national unity.

"The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger," he said. "Had this not happened, this would've been one of the most incredible speeches," aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden.

"Honestly, it's going to be a whole different speech now," he said.

Any such dialing down by Trump will come before a delegation, many of whom have been moved by Trump's own defiant words in the grasp of U.S. Secret Service agents Saturday, and have sparked their echo in the form of chants of "fight, fight, fight."

"I do believe that after going through that his message will be better, and I do think he will appeal to our better emotions," Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Lawrence Tabas said. "He has an enormous compassion and empathy that doesn't always come through."

AP logo
Jul 18, 2024, 11:25 AM GMT

His family will be there, but not everyone will speak

Unlike most national conventions, Trump's wife Melania and daughter Ivanka who both spoke at the previous two conventions are not expected to address the convention but are expected to attend.

Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, ended the program Tuesday with a speech about Trump's personal warmth and love for his family.