Republicans strengthen unity around Trump as National Convention begins penultimate day

The Republican National Convention (RNC) enters its third and penultimate day on Wednesday with renewed displays of unity around the party’s undisputed leader: former president and White House candidate Donald Trump.

The massive gathering, one of the most important in the US electoral calendar, continues its journey in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with more campaign events, meetings of party leaders, delegate exchanges and collateral activities, while anticipation grows around the speech of Senator JD Vance, the chosen by Trump to be his running mate.

Vance, 39, is expected to address RNC attendees Wednesday night from Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, the main venue for the event. It will be the first time the former president’s longtime critic turned staunchest ally has spoken publicly since the expected announcement.

The former president himself will give his acceptance speech on Thursday, the closing day of the convention. Trump has attended the celebration every night, where he has appeared with his right ear bandaged. after the failed attack against himto let himself be supported by his supporters.

Trump’s former competitors in the Republican primaries put their differences aside to support the former president.

The Republican base has reaffirmed its support for the former president even more after the assassination attempt on him last Saturday. This has “energized” his supporters and brought together former rivals such as the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, who arrived on Tuesday night at the main stage of the meeting amid applause and boos.

The former president’s closest competitor and the last to give Trump a clear path in the party primaries, settled her differences with her former boss, to whom he expressed her “strong support” and who, according to her, invited her to speak at the convention.

“Donald Trump asked me to speak at this convention on behalf of unity. It was a kind invitation and I happily accepted,” Haley said, addressing her supporters. “My message to them is very simple: you don’t have to agree with Trump all the time to vote for him,” she added.

Haley was followed by another former rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, seen early in the election cycle as the Republican Party’s brightest prospect and most viable alternative to Trump.

“Donald Trump has been demonized. He has been sued. He has been impeached. And he almost lost his life,” said DeSantis, who, according to analysts, is trying to heal the relationship with his former mentor, broken during the fight for the party nomination. “We cannot let him down. And we cannot let America down.”

Haley and DeSantis’ appearances have drawn attention, and their support for Trump stands out given the former president’s personal attacks on them during his campaign.

The displays of unity around Trump ahead of the November elections contrast with the situation in the Democratic Party, whose members have expressed doubts about the candidacy of President Joe Biden, who they fear does not have the mental and physical capacity to assume office for four more years.

Several lawmakers and allies of Biden, 81, have reservations about whether he represents a credible challenge at the ballot box to Donald Trump, 78.

The Democratic National Convention, to be held next August in nearby Chicago, will clear up any uncertainty about Biden’s candidacy.

[Con información de The Associated Press]

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