Trump to GOP convention: ‘I will bring back the American dream’
Former President Donald Trump asserted his command over the Republican National Convention Thursday night (July 18) with a 90-minute speech that discussed the issues on which he planned to focus for the next four years.
“We will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country,” Trump said.
Trump – who survived an assassination attempt, legal woes that included felony convictions, and defeated a dozen primary challengers – earned his third successive GOP nomination for U.S. President.
He chose U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, as his Vice-presidential running mate earlier in the week.
At the beginning of his acceptance speech, Trump provided details of last weekend’s assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. He thanked the crowd for its outpouring of support and paid homage to the volunteer firefighter who was killed at the rally and two attendees who were injured by gunfire.
Trump’s speech was reminiscent of his rally speeches where he’s riffed about a litany of issues while not offering many details. He mentioned drug research, a stronger military, energy independence, inflation control, law and order, patriotism in schools, world peace, tax reductions and tariffs, saving Social Security and Medicare, and improving foreign policy with countries like Iran, North Korea, China and Russia.
“We must first rescue our nation… under the current administration, we are indeed a nation in decline,” he said. “It’s time for a change. This administration can’t come close to solving our problems.”
Trump offered some details on a few topics. On infrastructure investment, Trump said he would redirect money supporting foreign countries for spending on bridges and roads. He said he would roll back federal electric vehicle goals on his first day back in office to keep traditional automotive factories intact.
His plans to curb illegal immigration wrest on withholding foreign aid to countries and demanding they take back immigrants living in the U.S. Additionally, he’s promised mass deportation of immigrants comparing his future efforts to the Eisenhower administration.
He said he would also provide relief to middle class workers by eliminating taxes for employees who earn tips.
“The middle class will prosper like never ever before,” he said.
Parts of his speech, such as references to the fictional Hannibal Lecter or holding the next GOP convention in Venezuela, were rambling and disconnected.
CRITICS UNSWAYED, DEMOCRATS IN DISARRAY
Frequent Trump critic, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson who unsuccessfully challenged Trump in this year’s Republican primary, said he still would not endorse or vote for Trump.
During an interview with PBS Newshour on Thursday, Hutchinson, who has been at the GOP convention, confirmed his anti-Trump position. Hutchinson, a lifelong Republican, said Trump’s isolationist foreign policy is a complete historic reversal from the party that was active in ensuring leadership on the global stage.
Hutchinson also said Trump is “problematic” on many levels for the future of America, adding that he wants the Republican Party to be “the pro-American party and not the pro-Putin party.”
Meanwhile, Democrats are scrambling as it appears inevitable that President Joe Biden will drop out of the race. Since a subpar debate performance three weeks ago, Biden has been in a tailspin in swing state and national polling and has endured a mutiny among Democrats who are calling for his exit.
According to various media reports, big dollar Democratic donors are also pressuring the President to step aside. Party insiders say they expect President Biden to make a major announcement about his future as early as this weekend.
It is unclear if a Democratic convention, scheduled three weeks from now in Chicago, will be a wide-open free-for-all or if a consensus candidate, such as Vice-president Kamala Harris, would be the ticket leader.