Trump as master of a Republican party lined up behind him

Donald Trump made another triumphant appearance on Tuesday à the Republican convention in Milwaukee, on an evening which saw his former rivals, one after the other, publicly support him and swear loyalty to him. lit&eac;.

Like the day before, his ear still covered with a bandage, the 78-year-old candidate unleashed thunderous applause and a standing ovation upon arriving in the immense sports hall which, for four days , hosts the high mass of the Grand Old Party.

Former US President Donald Trump (l) and Ohio Senator J. D. Vance on the first day of the Republican convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 15, 2024 © AFP – Brendan SMIALOWSKI

Without speaking but clearly enjoying the moment, three days after escaping shooting during a campaign rally, Mr. Trump went to sit in the VIP room surrounded by his lieutenants. He took his place next to J.D. Vance, the atypical senator he chose to assist him in the campaign.

From there, seeming less tense than 24 hours earlier, he attended with delight a carefully regulated ballet alternating on the platform the figures of the party he defeated in the primaries, first and foremost Nikki Haley.

The former governor of South Carolina, who for months warned the country of “the chaos” that a return of Donald Trump to the White House would cause, was clear: “Donald Trump has my farm support, period!”, she said.

Two other former rivals of the billionaire, who also tried to question his control over the party, without much hope of succeeding, have also sworn allegiance.

– Allegiance –

Women react to the arrival of Donald Trump at the Republican convention in Milwaukee, July 16, 2024 © AFP – ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS

Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy praised a smiling Donald Trump, relishing this great display of unity behind his person.

The other speakers this evening were anonymous Americans, selected because they had lost a loved one killed by an illegal migrant or by a fentanyl overdose.

They launched vibrant calls to dislodge Joe Biden from the White House, directly accusing him of these tragic deaths.

Among the thousands of activists who flocked to Milwaukee, the fervor does not does not deny himself.

“Trump has a will that I have not seen in any other human being. He is fantastic. I believe he is protected by our prayers and the love we have for him. And he looks healthy, he exudes strength,” enthuses Connie Davie, an ardent activist.

Donald Trump, fist raised, alongside Senator J.D. Vance, who could become his vice-president © AFP – Brendan SMIALOWSKI

Reassured about the unity of the Republican Party and having also obtained the full support of the delegates on Monday, Donald Trump announced that he was going back to the campaign with a meeting on Saturday in the state of Michigan, exactly one week after the shots which targeted him.

Until then, he will deliver a speech on Thursday accepting his nomination as the official candidate of the Republicans, during a spectacular party closing the convention.

– “The most great mosquito of the world” –

The former business magnate also set out this week to win votes outside his party. He called on independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. to drop out of the race and support him against Joe Biden.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., independent presidential candidate, during a campaign rally in Washington, May 24, 2024 © AFP – Bastien INZAURRALDE

The anti-vaccine activist — nephew of assassinated president “JFK” — however refused to throw in the towel.

A video of the conversation between the two men leaked on social networks Tuesday morning.

We hear Donald Trump talking about the shots that targeted him on Saturday during his meeting in Pennsylvania.

It's like being bitten by “the biggest mosquito in the world!”, he says.

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