Republican presidential candidate and former president, Donald Trump, and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, watch with their families as the balloons fall during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)A.J. Yvette is reflected in the mirrored wall during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)A color guard is reflected in a mirror during the Republican National Convention Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)Delegates hold during the Republican National Convention Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)Delegates walk along the hallway during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)A service dog, "Lambeau," rests during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, right, with his dog named "Baby Dog" speaks during the Republican National Convention, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance arrives at the Republican National Convention Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, hugs his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance after speaking on third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum, Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and Melania Trump during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump stands on stage with former first lady Melania Trump, family members and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance, during the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum, Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump appears with vice presidential candidate JD Vance, R-Ohio, during the Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)Texas delegates cheer during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)Texas delegates cheer during the Republican National Convention, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Delegates reacts as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is introduced during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Arizona delegate Joe Neglia and Stacey Goodman watch during the Republican National Convention, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump points to his ear as he talks to Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives during the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is introduced during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. At right is Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is introduced during the final night of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)Republican presidential candidate and former president, Donald Trump, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)The floor of the Fiserv Forum is seen with a slow shutter speed during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)Republican presidential candidate and former president, Donald Trump, and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, watch with their families as the balloons fall during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Delegates walk around the hallway during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Delegates arrive at the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)A delegate wears a tee shirt with a photo of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump being surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally during the Republican National Convention Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)A delegate holds up a photo during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Delegates dance around during the Republican National Convention, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)Georgia delegate Kathleen Thornman takes a picture with her phone during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Republican presidential candidate and former president, Donald Trump, and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, watch with their families as the balloons fall during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
MILWAUKEE – Thousands of Republican delegates officially made Donald Trump their party's presidential nominee just days after he survived an assassination attempt.
The shooting hung over the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where prominent GOP officials and everyday citizens from around the country spoke to the party faithful. They made their case for Trump to return to the White House and savaged Democratic President Joe Biden with blistering attacks on his record and his mental acuity.
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Appearing in public for the first time since a bullet grazed his ear, Trump entered the Fiserv Forum with a white bandage prominently affixed to his ear, a visual reminder of the potential tragedy he narrowly escaped. He also made his first appearance with his chosen running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
For Trump, a former reality television star highly attuned to his public image and the visuals he projects, the convention provided a chance to choreograph an entertaining spectacle for his loyal supporters and the voters he's trying to court. All as supporters in cowboy hats, “make American great again” caps, Trump masks and American flag regalia cheered him on.
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