Thousands of Republican delegates officially made Donald Trump their party’s presidential nominee on July 15, just days after he survived a brush with gun violence.
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 radical party faithful. They made their case for Trump – a criminally convicted ex-president and adjudicated rapist – to return to the White House, and savaged Democratic President Joe Biden with blistering attacks.
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 Senator 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 cult-like supporters.
Overwhelmed by frothing cheers, it was clear that the Republican Party of Lincoln and Reagan was gone, and only MAGA remained – in cowboy hats, “Make American Great Again” caps, Trump masks, and co-opted American flag regalia.
