MILWAUKEE — The fourth and final day of the Republican National Convention will carry a theme of “Make America Great Once Again,” highlighted by a speech from former President Donald Trump.
The remarks will be Trump’s first in a public setting since he nearly succumbed to an assassin’s bullet on a stage in western Pennsylvania. He has attended the other three nights of speeches but has not yet addressed attendees.
Trump told the Washington Examiner’s Salena Zito that he completely rewrote his speech following the shooting, from an aggressive “humdinger” to one that focused on national unity.
“Had this not happened, this would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches” aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden, Trump said. “Honestly, it’s going to be a whole different speech now.”
The switch was from an address that would excite his base to one that reflects what he describes as an entirely changed election campaign in light of the assassination attempt.
Trump’s words will be closely watched by members of both parties, as he lays out a vision for a non-consecutive second term and the ouster of incumbent president Biden.
Each day of the conference includes a central message, with Monday’s being “Make America Wealthy Once Again,” Tuesday’s “Make America Safe Once Again,” and Wednesday’s “Make America Strong Once Again.” Nearly 2,500 delegates from across the country are attending the convention at the Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks, and other nearby venues for the festivities.
The delegates voted Monday to nominate Trump as the Republican nominee and added Vance as his running mate. Vance gave his first speech as the vice presidential nominee on Wednesday night, making his case to an electorate that in many cases is still getting familiar with him.
That won’t be the case for Trump, who was a celebrity developer and television personality for decades before rocking the Republican Party with his upset win in the 2016 election. But the presence of the bandage on his wounded right ear will make his words an even bigger event than they otherwise would be.
The convention is open only to delegates, elected officials, members of the media, and volunteers but will be easy to watch from home for everyone else.
The session will run from 5:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Central time, and coverage will be available on YouTube, X, Facebook Live, Amazon Prime, Rumble, Twitch, Fox News, and the Washington Examiner.
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The list of convention speakers is much longer than just Trump and his vice president, including a mix of current and former politicians, celebrities, Trump family members, and media personalities.
Among the highlighted speakers throughout the week are RNC Co-Chairwoman Lara Trump, singer Lee Greenwood, Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), 11 GOP senators, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.