MILWAUKEE (NewsNation) — Former President Donald Trump is expected to officially accept the party’s nomination Thursday on the last day of the Republican National Convention, where he is also scheduled to address delegates in a speech that’s reportedly been rewritten since his attempted assassination.
Trump is expected to accept his third consecutive party nod in prime time before thousands of supporters at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Trump’s running mate JD Vance addressed the same crowd on Wednesday.
Trump’s election opponent, President Joe Biden, tested positive for COVID-19 while traveling Wednesday in Las Vegas and is experiencing “mild symptoms” including “general malaise” from the infection, the White House said.
What we know about Trump’s speech
The Republican National Committee said Trump will continue to share his political vision to “Make America Great Again,” but where his initial speech was initially going to excite his voter base, it will now focus on how the attack on his life has altered the campaign.
“The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,” Trump said in an interview with the Washington Examiner. “Had this not happened, this would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches.”
Trump continued, “This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would’ve been two days ago.”
In an interview with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo Wednesday, Eric Trump said the shooting changed his father’s outlook in life.
“I do think it changes your message … When you have a brush with death like that, I think he probably realized what’s important in life and what’s not. … what you want your legacy to be,” Eric Trump said.
Trump suffered an ear injury from the shooting. One rally attendee died and at least two others were injured, not including the gunman, who was killed by the Secret Service.
Since the attempted assassination, the former president has been attending the Republican National Convention with a bandaged ear. His address will conclude the four-day convention in Milwaukee.
What RNC delegates expect to hear
Trump’s moment of survival has shaped the week, even as convention organizers insisted they would continue with their program as planned less than 48 hours after the shooting.
Speakers and delegates have repeatedly chanted “Fight, fight, fight!” in homage to Trump’s words as he got to his feet and pumped his fist after Secret Service agents killed the gunman. And some of his supporters have started sporting their own makeshift bandages on the convention floor.
The convention has tried to give voice to the fear and frustration of conservatives while also trying to promote the former president as a symbol of hope for all voters.
Republicans have suggested the combative former president take a gentler tone in light of the shooting and have suggested the crisis provides a chance to de-escalate the divisive political rhetoric that has marked the 2024 campaign.
Any such dialing down by Trump will come before a delegation, many of whom have been moved by Trump’s own defiant words in the grasp of U.S. Secret Service agents Saturday.
“I do believe that after going through that his message will be better, and I do think he will appeal to our better emotions,” Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Lawrence Tabas said. “He has an enormous compassion and empathy that doesn’t always come through.”
The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
