Former President Trump recounted the moments a would-be assassin fired at him during a campaign rally in his first public comments since the shooting as he accepted the Republican Party’s nomination in a speech focused on uniting the party and country.
The 78-year-old former president commanded the stage for more than 90 minutes — well above average by convention standards — as he offered a deeply personal account of his near-death experience before pivoting to grievances over the Democrats’ handling of the economy, immigration and other issues.
“We will have an incredible victory, and we will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country,” Trump said at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
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It was his first speech since a 20-year-old man shot at him, causing a wound to one ear and killing a bystander during a rally last weekend.
In an emotional retelling of the shooting, where Trump said he had “God on my side,” the ex-president asked for a moment of silence to honor the victim, firefighter Corey Comperatore. Before a hushed crowd, he kissed the slain firefighter’s helmet on the stage.
“I’m not supposed to be here tonight,” Trump said quietly, prompting supporters to shout out “Yes you are!”
Minutes earlier Trump took the stage to chants of “USA” from a crowd which has spent the week talking of him in near-divine terms.
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