Staff Reports
The Republican National Convention is taking a surprisingly mellow turn this year, thanks in large part to some calls for unity amidst plenty of juicy drama. Former President Donald Trump got on stage and channeled his inner peacemaker, something that’s as rare as a chicken in a fox den. Meanwhile, GOP heavy hitters are being told to cool their jets and keep their focus on policy.
Trump and Joe Biden agreeing on peace? That’s about as likely as a cat and dog starting a band, but here we are. This unexpected détente follows a weekend assassination attempt on Trump. The Orange Lion, as those on the right lovingly call him, decided to throw away his original speech and whip up a new one that’s less fire and brimstone, more Kumbaya. Apparently, he believes this moment is America’s chance to come together, though he seems to think Biden’s got a criminal mastermind streak that needs calling out.
Today is not just some isolated incident.
The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs.
That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) July 14, 2024
You’d think a near-death experience might mellow out Trump, but old habits die harder than Hillary’s ambition. He still managed to sprinkle in his greatest hits about witch hunts and injustice. Yes, amidst his calls for unity, he couldn’t resist a jab or ten about the classified documents case being tossed out and other legal entanglements he’s tangled in. Preaching peace on the one hand while reminding everyone about those so-called political witch hunts on the other—classic Trump.
Adding fuel to the already blazing fire, Trump picked Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate. Vance, once a Trump critic, now firmly in the MAGA cult, wasted no time in blaming Biden’s rhetoric for the assassination attempt. Democrats are screeching, obviously, calling Vance’s selection divisive. But what else is new? It’s as predictable as Antifa at a free speech rally.
Meanwhile, Trump’s aides have been running around like headless chickens, trying to temper the post-shooting rhetoric from his more exuberant supporters. Even firebrands like Vivek Ramaswamy have been dialed back. He stood on stage and warned folks about turning the country into snippets of “Civil War 2: Electric Boogaloo,” calling for calm and unity. This sounds like an RNC that’s trying to put on its Sunday best for show and tell.
Trump’s decided the show must go on, and the convention speakers were told to keep blasting Biden’s policies like it’s business as usual. No mention of the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania—keep the stiff upper lip and all that. It seems only one lucky speaker will get the golden ticket to address the shooting, leaving everyone else to slam Biden in their pre-prepped speeches. Trump’s staging it like a well-rehearsed reality TV spectacle, meticulously planned chaos.
