Dozens of supporters of former President Donald Trump gathered in Milwaukee, site of the Republican National Convention, on Sunday to pray for the health and safety of the presidential hopeful, a day after he was shot during a campaign rally.
“We are here simply to (…) pray for peace, and pray for his (Trump’s) health and safety,” he told the Voice of America Alexandra Schweitzer, participant in the vigil Pray for Trumpheld in a central park in the city, located in the state of Wisconsin, where the party event will officially begin on Monday.
Schweitzer insisted that those taking part in the prayer had gathered “to support” the former president. “We are here to show him that we will never give up,” he added, while encouraging those in attendance to write messages of recovery to Trump on a poster board, as a “get well card.”
Flags with the slogan “Make America great again” filled the event, which was also dotted with buttons, posters, banners and a giant photo of Trump, who will be confirmed as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee at the convention.
The participants gathered in a circle to pray in unison for the health of the former president, who arrived in the city shortly after, according to public on social media his son Eric Trump.
“I’m here because I believe that in America, you should be allowed to believe whatever you want, and people have to respect those beliefs. That’s what America is all about. Attacking someone or trying to kill someone, that goes against the very fabric of this nation,” said James Bigenhamer, a resident of suburban Milwaukee.
Dawn Goodman, at her side, said they attended the vigil to ask for peace in the upcoming elections. “We are here for the United States, we are trying to save the country,” she added.
Trump was the victim of a assassination attempt on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania during one of his campaign rallies. The former president was wounded in his right ear and was quickly evacuated from the scene by the Secret Service.
The shooter, 20-year-old Matthew Crooks, was killed. One rally participant was killed and two people were injured.
Shortly afterward, Trump confirmed that he was out of danger and assured that the attack would not change his plans to attend the Republican National Convention. This key date in the American electoral calendar has as its main objective the selection of the official candidate of the party, in view of the presidential elections next November.
His Democratic rival, President Joe Biden, immediately rejected the attack on Trump, one of the highest-profile acts of political violence in the country in decades. “An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for,” Biden said on Sunday, who also wished his predecessor a speedy recovery and sent condolences to the family of the person killed in the shooting.
Biden’s message of unity coincides with that of his Republican opponentwho on Sunday called on Americans to remain resilient and united in a difficult time. American politicians from both parties and dignitaries from around the world They were also quick to condemn the incident..
Despite the incident, the former president continues his electoral agenda. Trump is expected to attend the events of the convention and offer one of the most anticipated speeches of the event, where expectations are growing the expected announcement of his running mate.
The attempted assassination of Donald Trump “certainly I think will energize” the convention, he told the VOA Alex Leykin, head of the Republican Party in Ozaukee County. “That’s the effect, the party’s base is already energized. This just focuses them even more,” he said while holding an American flag and posters allegorical of Trump.
The Republican National Convention will be held from July 15 to 18 in Milwaukee, where police presence has been increased since the attack. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement Fox News that authorities are working together to safeguard the site, where officials have spent months making security preparations.
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