Former President Donald Trump has rewritten his Republican National Convention speech in the wake of Saturday’s assassination attempt against him. Trump said he wants to capitalize on the historic moment and call for national unity.
“The speech I was going to give was going to be incredible,” Trump said, but he has now shifted his focus to emphasizing national unity. “It’s going to be a whole different speech now.”
Trump credited God with saving his life, saying he turned away from the crowd to look at a screen showing data, which may have prevented the attack from being fatal. He noted that people from all walks of life and political views have reached out to him, and he believes the incident has changed the election campaign.
In the aftermath of the attack, Trump said he has received messages of support from across the country. “It’s a chance to bring the country together,” he said. “I was given that chance.”
Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday morning, saying, “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening” and that he would “fear not.” He again invoked God’s role in his deliverance during the interview.
Trump also paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was killed in the attack, and two other supporters who were wounded. He said his decision to raise his hand when the Secret Service led him off stage was to reassure the crowd that he was okay and that America would continue to move forward.
Trump’s speech is expected to emphasize national unity, echoing President Ronald Reagan’s famous 1981 address after he was shot and wounded by a would-be assassin. Trump said he wants to channel the energy and resilience of the crowd at the rally, where he was attacked.
[…] From Attack to Unity: Trump Rethinks Convention Speech After Assassination Attempt […]