Staff Reports
The Republican Party is beaming with confidence this week in Milwaukee, and why wouldn’t they be? The former Commander-in-Chief, Donald J. Trump, took center stage like a lion among lambs, captivating the audience and putting on a masterclass of political showmanship. Trump wasn’t just present; he was omnipresent, personally overseeing much of the proceedings and laser-focused on spreading the MAGA gospel to new followers.
Hispanic and Black mothers are now urging their communities to reconsider Trump. A labor leader had left Democrats fuming by merely showing up. Families who lost children in the chaotic Kabul withdrawal in 2021 had delegates reaching for tissues. Even Trump’s granddaughter managed to humanize the billionaire by sharing nostalgic stories of him sneaking candy to his grandkids. It was a blend of serious politics and heartfelt moments, reminding everyone that Trump is as much a grandfather as he is a political juggernaut.
Trump’s RNC spreads emotional, big-tent MAGA message — a show lauded even by Democratshttps://t.co/T5DBlzyT2M pic.twitter.com/zDMM9h5CQ4
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) July 19, 2024
Imagine the audacity of Peter Navarro speaking just hours after his release from federal prison for standing up to Congressional Democrats. Add to that Amber Rose, a former sex worker who told it like it is about Biden’s inflation disaster, making it clear that even she—someone from a very different background—had a place in Trump’s America. Convention veteran Charlie Gerow couldn’t be more right: Every speaker managed to tap into deep-seated emotions, making this affair not just a gathering, but a movement.
Veteran Mike McKenna pointed out how this year’s convention felt focused and mature, free from the petty internal squabbles of the past. This was the show that should have been in 2016 and 2020. It’s a reflection of a more settled, confident party, ready to take on the uphill battle without hesitation. In short, it’s the difference between mere ideas and a fully realized vision.
The outreach was wide and diverse. Families of American soldiers who died in Kabul tore into Biden for essentially erasing their loved ones’ sacrifice. A legal immigrant from Nicaragua expressed her regret for supporting Biden, highlighting the Democrats’ failures on inflation, immigration, and education. Anne Funder, a grieving mother who lost her son to a fentanyl overdose, tugged at heartstrings, offering a poignant reminder of the failures of current drug policies. Even Nikki Haley, Trump’s former competitor, called for party unity and gave a nod to inclusiveness—a sign that when it comes to winning, there’s no place for old grudges.
Vivek Ramaswamy gave a rallying cry to Gen Z, challenging them to be real rebels by embracing conservative values—marriage, family, God, and country. And if anyone thought unions were Democrat territory, Sean O’Brien, President of the Teamsters, disrupted that narrative. O’Brien didn’t endorse Trump but his mere presence was a dagger in Biden’s claims of being the most pro-union president ever.
Even prominent Democrats grudgingly admitted the grandiosity of the event. David Axelrod praised the stage setup, although he couldn’t resist taking jabs at speeches by the Trump Jr. and others. McKenna emphasized that the convention was most impactful when highlighting the victims of Biden’s disastrous policies.
The unity at this year’s convention starkly contrasts with 2016 when Trump battled his fellow Republicans. Back then, Ted Cruz wouldn’t even endorse Trump. Fast forward to today, and Cruz started his speech with a hearty blessing for Trump. McKenna, noting the ephemeral nature of this unity, acknowledged that it is Trump holding the party together, not a unified political ideology.
This year’s convention wasn’t just about rallying the base; it was about broadening it, drawing in people from all sorts of backgrounds and making a powerful case for another four years of Trump. And if the emotion in Milwaukee says anything, it’s that the GOP is not just ready for 2024—they are more united and determined than ever.
