Trump Changes GOP Convention Speech To Focus On Unity Instead Of Biden Administration

On Sunday, former president Donald Trump announced he is revising his speech for the Republican National Convention, which began on Monday, to focus on uniting the country following an assassination attempt against him at a Pennslyvania rally on Saturday.

On Thursday, when Trump officially accepts the Republican Party’s nomination for president at the convention, his new speech will call for a renewed effort toward national unity, shifting the focus away from criticizing President Joe Biden‘s politics.

In a statement, Trump expressed his desire to seize this historic moment to unify the country.

“The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger. Had this not happened, this would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches,” said Trump on Sunday.

“I had all prepared an extremely tough speech, really good, all about the corrupt horrible administration,” he said, referring to the Biden administration, “But I threw it away.”

“Honestly, it’s going to be a whole different speech now,” he added.

Trump explained that he shifted from a speech aimed at energizing his voter base to one that reflects his belief that the assassination attempt had fundamentally changed the election campaign.

Both Republicans and Democrats have acknowledged this shift in the aftermath of Saturday’s shooting.

Trump mentioned that people from various backgrounds and political views have reached out to him and noted that he narrowly escaped death by turning away from the crowd to look at a screen displaying data for his speech.

“That reality is just setting in. I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?” Trump told a reporter.

Boarding his private jet to the Milwaukee convention on Sunday, Trump stated that his speech will rise to meet the demands of the historic moment. 

“This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together…I was given that chance…The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would’ve been two days ago,” he said.

“I want to try to unite our country. But I don’t know if that’s possible. People are very divided,” Trump added, acknowledging that policy positions on immigration and transgender rights might complicate efforts to bridge the nation’s divide.

“Some people want open borders, some don’t. Some want men to be able to play on women’s sports teams, and others don’t,” he said, emphasizing that success will ultimately unify the country.

Trump’s new speech for the GOP convention in Milwaukee, focused on uniting the country, will echo former President Ronald Reagan, who survived a more serious assassination attempt in Washington, D.C., in 1981.

Presidet Joe Biden has also promoted a message of unity.

On Sunday night, Biden spoke from the Oval Office, declaring, “We are not enemies. We are neighbors, we are friends, co-workers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together.”