Nikki Haley & Ron DeSantis’ RNC Speeches Show Complete Submission To Trump

On Tuesday evening, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, along with other Republican speakers, took the stage on the second night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, praising former President Donald Trump.

Both governors, once critics and rivals of Trump, reaffirmed their support for him, each using distinct strategies to appeal to a broad Republican audience.

Haley’s speech aimed to persuade undecided Republican voters who, like her, “don’t agree” with everything Trump says, while DeSantis focused on key right-wing issues like immigration and the border, highlighting the night’s theme: “Make America Safe Once Again.”

Haley, a former 2024 Republican presidential candidate who had opposed Trump despite serving in his cabinet, said she was “happy” to accept his “gracious” invitation to speak on Republican “unity” at the convention.

“I’ll make one thing perfectly clear: Donald Trump has my strong endorsement. Period,” Haley declared, earning loud cheers from the crowd.

She argued that the country cannot endure another four years under President Joe Biden, effectively equating it to a vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.

“You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him. Take it from me,” said Haley. “But [Trump and I] agree more often than we disagree. We have a country to save, and a unified Republican party is essential to saving her.”

Haley spent the rest of her speech highlighting what she viewed as foreign policy failures under the Biden administration, arguing that the U.S. enemies saw Trump as “tough” and Biden as “weak.”

“Donald Trump is clear who is our friend and who is our enemy,” she said.

In contrast, DeSantis centered his speech on domestic issues, including immigration, border security, education and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

He argued that Democrats prioritize “coddling criminals” over protecting their own citizens, including, as he noted, “our own nominee,” referring to Trump’s numerous legal battles.

DeSantis also echoed Haley’s criticisms of Biden’s handling of foreign policy.

“Joe Biden has failed this nation. Our enemies are not confined to 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” said DeSantis, referencing Biden’s reported 8 p.m. bedtime, which has been debunked as untrue.

“We need a commander-in-chief who is available 24/7,” he added.

DeSantis concluded by stating that Trump’s Republican party had successfully tackled the “woke mind virus” in his state and argued that electing Trump would give lawmakers a “chance to do this all across America.”

Haley and DeSantis’s speeches followed Trump’s surprise appearance on the convention’s opening night, Monday evening. He arrived wearing a bandage over his ear to cover injuries sustained in a deadly shooting at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, prompting a heroic welcome from the convention crowd.

Trump’s vice presidential pick, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), also a former critic of Trump, is scheduled to speak on Wednesday night. Trump himself will address the convention and formally accept the Republican nomination on Thursday.