Candidates, former rivals, and regular Americans all took to the stage to support Donald Trump and tout the party’s agenda for the 2024 election.
MILWAUKEE—Former President Donald Trump received praise from a host of Republican leaders and 2024 candidates during the second day of the party’s national convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Former President Trump, who was formally nominated by the convention for the presidency in the 2024 election, sat in the VIP booth listening to speeches in support of his candidacy and that of the party’s U.S. Senate candidates.
The lineup included Senate candidates from all battleground states, House Republican leaders, Trump’s former primary rivals, and ordinary Americans who had suffered from tragedies that drew attention to the GOP’s key issues this campaign cycle.
Below are the night’s key takeaways.
Nikki Haley Calls on Republicans to Unite Behind Trump
“I’m here tonight because we have a country to save, and a unified Republican Party is essential to saving her,” said former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) during a primetime address at the Republican National Convention.
Ms. Haley took the stage to address the convention in support of her former boss. She was not initially scheduled to speak but was invited personally by him after a would-be assassin nearly took his life on July 13. A few days before the convention, Ms. Haley also released her delegates to support former President Trump.
Ms. Haley praised the former president’s national security policies, which she participated in as Ambassador to the United Nations during his term at the White House. She contrasted former President Trump’s tenure to the Biden and Obama administrations, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attack Ukraine during former President Trump’s tenure because he was “tough.”
Former President Trump smiled during Ms. Haley’s remarks.
Ms. Haley was the former president’s last major primary opponent to drop out of the race. She criticized him during the primary campaign for his temperament and his alleged inability to expand the party’s appeal. She initially did not endorse him after she withdrew from the race.
“Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period,” Ms. Haley said.
DeSantis Summarizes the GOP’s Conservative Vision
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) was former President Trump’s principal opponent for much of the Republican presidential primary in 2023 and early 2024.
By Arjun Singh and Janice Hisle
