Family Joins Trump on Stage
50 days ago
After more than an hour-and-a-half, former President Trump wrapped up a speech that outlined his vision for America.
He was joined on stage by his family as red, white, blue, and gold balloons fell from the ceiling onto the convention floor. Joining them was Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), and his wife, Usha Vance.
Former president Donald Trump speaks on the last day of the RNC in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 18, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Trump: 'Every Single Moment … Is a Gift from God'
50 days ago
“If the events of last Saturday make anything clear, it is that every single moment we have on Earth is a gift from God,” former President Trump said to Franklin Graham during his speech. “We have to make the most of every day for the people and for the country that we love.”
The would-be assassin in Pennsylvania, he said, “wanted to stop our movement.” But, he told the crowd, the movement was never about him.
“It has always been about you,” he said. “It's your movement. The biggest movement in the history of our country.
“It has always been about the hardworking, patriotic citizens of America.”
Trump Threatens Those Holding Americans Hostage
50 days ago
Former President Trump called on those who are holding Americans hostage to release them or face repercussions.
"We want our hostages back and they better be back well, you will be paying a very big price," he said.
Eight Americans have been held hostage by the Hamas terrorist group since Oct. 7, 2023, when it launched its attack on Israel.
Trump Looks at the ‘Chart That Saved My Life'
50 days ago
During his July 13 rally in Pennsylvania, former President Trump was looking and reading off a chart related to illegal immigration numbers when he was president. It was while looking at the chart that a bullet grazed his right ear.
It was the turning of his head to look at the chart that he said saved his life in the assassination attempt.
The “chart that saved my life” was displayed on screens as the former president spoke on July 18.
The crowd chanted, “Love that chart.”
Trump Reiterates Pledge Not to Tax Tips
50 days ago
Former President Trump told the audience about a waitress who had talked to him about her tips being taxed.
“There's just very little cash given, it's all put right on the check. And they come in and they take so much of our money. It's just ridiculous,” he recalled the waitress telling him.
“I got my information from a very smart waitress. That's better than spending millions of dollars” on consultants, he said.
He reiterated his promise to not tax tips—which would require congressional action.
Trump Calls Out China Virus
50 days ago
Former President Trump recalled the U.S.–China trade deal negotiated in early 2020 in which China agreed to buy $50 billion worth of American goods.
He said, “I don't even talk about it because of COVID. I don't even mention it frankly because of what happened with the China virus.”
He lamented the United States importing cars from China and abroad and pledged to enact a 100 percent to 200 percent tariff on cars not made in the United States, if elected.
Trump Gives Vance Shout Out
50 days ago
Former President Trump gave a shout out to his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
He lauded Mr. Vance’s law credential and noted that he and his wife, Usha Vance, met at Yale Law.
If the Trump–Vance ticket wins, Usha Vance will be the first spouse of a vice president of Indian descent and the first woman of color.
“You’re going to be doing this for a long time. Enjoy the ride,” former President Trump said, prompting Mr. Vance to respond with a thumbs up.
Former President Trump, if elected, will only be able to serve four years due to constitutional term limits.
Trump Honors Wife Melania in Speech
50 days ago
Former President Trump honored his wife, Melania, and thanked her for writing her letter to America calling for national unity
“I am deeply honored to be joined by my amazing wife Melania,” the former president said during his acceptance speech. “Melania, thank you very much.”
“It really took the Republican Party by surprise,” he said of the letter. "I will tell you it was beautiful.”
Trump Observes Moment of Silence for Fallen Firefighter
50 days ago
Former President Trump held a moment of silence for firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed in the assassination attempt against him during his July 13 rally in Pennsylvania.
"But Corey unfortunately, we have to use the past tense,” he said before the moment of silence. “He was incredible.”
Trump Honors Corey Comperatore
50 days ago
Former President Trump paused his nomination acceptance speech to give praise and remembrance to Corey Comperatore, the man who lost his life during the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
“He was incredible,” said President Trump during his July 18 speech.
“He lost his life selflessly acting as a human shield to protect them from flying bullets,” he said. “He went right over the top of them and was hit. What a fine man.”
On stage with the former president was Mr. Comperatore’s equipment, and he went over to it, embraced it, and gave the helmet a kiss.
Former President Trump told the crowd that he had spoken with Mr. Comperatore’s family and the families of the two other men who were injured by the would-be assassin’s bullets.
He announced that $6.3 million had already been raised for the families affected by the shooting. He also pulled out from his pocket a $1 million check from his friend Dan Newlin.
“There's no greater love than to lay down one's life for others,” said former President Trump. “This is the spirit that forged America in our darkest hours. And this is the love that will lead America back to the summit of human achievement and greatness.
“Despite such a heinous attack we unite this evening more determined than ever. I am more determined than ever.”
Former president Donald Trump speaks on the last day of the RNC in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 18, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Trump Recounts Surviving Assassination Attempt
50 days ago
Former President Donald Trump, just after accepting the GOP presidential nomination, recalled surviving the assassination attempt against him at the July 13 rally in Pennsylvania.
"Let me begin this evening by expressing my gratitude to the American people for your outpouring of love and support following the assassination attempt at my rally on Saturday. As you already know the assassin's bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life," he said.
"So many people have asked me what happened. Tell us what happened please. And therefore I will tell you exactly what happened,” he said. “And you will never hear it from me a second time because it's actually too painful to tell. It was a warm, beautiful day in the early evening in Butler Township in the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
He expressed astonishment at turning his head, which meant the bullet just grazed him, rather than hitting directly.
“I said to myself, 'Wow, what was that?' It can only be a bullet as my right hand to my ear … was covered with blood. Absolutely, blood all over the place,” he said.
"I immediately knew it was very serious, that we were under attack,” he said. “And then one movement proceeded to drop to the ground,"
He also expressed appreciation at the Secret Service agents who protected him. “Brave Secret Service agents rushed to the stage. These are great people,” he said.
“There was blood pouring everywhere and yet, in a certain way I felt very safe. Because I had God on my side,” he said.
Former president Donald Trump speaks on the last day of the RNC in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 18, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Trump Formally Accepts Nomination
50 days ago
Former President Donald Trump formally accepted the GOP’s nomination for President of the United States July 18.
“I am running to be president for all of America. Not half of America because there is no victory in winning for half of America,” he said.
“So tonight, with faith and devotion I proudly accept your nomination for president of the United States.”
Speaking in front of a projection of the White House, former President Trump said that the Republican Party will have “an incredible victory,” and they will launch “a new era of safety, prosperity and freedom for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed.”
“The discord and division in our society must be healed,” he said. “We must heal it quickly.
“As Americans we are bound together by a single fate in a shared destiny. We rise together, or we fall apart.”
Trump Takes Stage
50 days ago
Former President Trump has taken the stage to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
On stage is firefighter Corey Comperatore's uniform. Mr. Comperatore was killed during the assassination attempt against former President Trump in Pennsylvania on July 13.
Dana White Introduces Trump
50 days ago
UFC CEO Dana White introduced his longtime friend, former President Donald Trump, ahead of the formal nomination acceptance speech.
He said former President Trump asked him a couple weeks ago to address the RNC.
He relayed a text message: “I only wish you didn't have to interrupt your family trip. But I hope they understand. They love you. And they know how important this is.”
Mr. White said this exemplified who former President Trump is.
“Now think about this. This man's running for president of the United States. He's fighting for the future of this country. And he's concerned about interrupting my family trip,” Mr. White said.
“That's the President Trump that I know, a man who truly cares about people,” he said.
Mr. White said his words are only his.
“Nobody in the Trump campaign has ever told me what to say. Nobody tells me what to say. And I'm nobody's puppet and I'm not telling you what to think,” he said.
“I'm telling you what I know,” he said. “And I know President Trump is a fighter.”
'Fight! Fight!': Kid Rock Performs at RNC
50 days ago
Music artist Kid Rock took the stage at the RNC and immediately took the audience back to former President Trump’s first action and words after he survived an assassination attempt on July 13.
Performing a rendition of “American Bad-[expletive],” which consisted of several pro-Trump lyrics, he told the audience to raise a fist in the air and shout, “Fight! Fight!” and later in the song he had them chant “Trump! Trump!”
At the song’s conclusion Kid Rock introduced the CEO of UFC, Dana White.
Melania Trump Walks In
50 days ago
Former First Lady Melania Trump has walked into the arena to take her seat in her family box. She walked in to background music from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
Mrs. Trump is not a scheduled speaker, but her husband will deliver the final speech of the night, accepting the GOP nod.
She has taken a backseat during her husband’s campaign.
Trump Expected to Speak on Assassination Attempt
50 days ago
The Trump campaign has released excerpts of former President Trump’s speech accepting the GOP presidential nomination. It includes the former president addressing the attempt on his life over the weekend.
Here are some excerpts obtained by The Epoch Times:
"I stand before you this evening with a message of confidence, strength, and hope. Four months from now, we will have an incredible victory, and we will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country."
"Together, we will launch a new era of safety, prosperity and freedom for citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed."
"The discord and division in our society must be healed. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart."
"I am running to be president for ALL of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America."
"Let me begin this evening by expressing my gratitude to the American people for your outpouring of love and support following the assassination attempt at my rally on Saturday."
“As you already know, the assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life. So many people have asked me what happened, and therefore, I’ll tell you what happened, and you’ll never hear it from me a second time, because it’s too painful to tell.”
“Despite such a heinous attack, we unite this evening more determined than ever. Our resolve is unbroken, and our purpose is unchanged--to deliver a government that serves the American people.”
“Everything I have to give, with all of the energy and fight in my heart and soul, I pledge to our nation tonight.”
“In an age when our politics too often divide us, now is the time to remember that we are all fellow citizens—we are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
“So tonight, whether you’ve supported me in the past or not, I hope you will support me in the future, because I will bring back the American Dream.”
“With great humility, I am asking you to be excited about the future of our country.”
Franklin Graham Leads RNC in Prayer
50 days ago
Franklin Graham took the stage and asked the audience to stand as he led them in a prayer for the nation.
With hearts turned skyward, Mr. Graham gave thanks for former President Donald Trump, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), and their families, and asked for protection and guidance for them and all of the nation’s political leaders. He also prayed for unity.
“Our nation is in trouble,” he said. “We’re divided politically, racially, economically, with millions of people seeking refuge and hope and are dry and thirsty land. They're the only ones who can fix the complexity of the problems that we face today.
“We ask that you unite our hearts, bring us together, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” Mr. Graham said.
Before the famous Evangelical Christian leader offered prayer, he said he had no explanation for why or how former President Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13.
“"I cannot explain why God would save one life and allow another one to be taken,” he said. “I don't have the answer for that. But one thing I do know is that God loves us."
Anticipation for Trump Builds at RNC
50 days ago
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told The Epoch Times he “learned long ago not to try and predict what Donald Trump will and won’t do.”
“I think no one knows what Donald Trump is going to say,” Saurabh Sharma, the executive director of the conservative staffing organization American Moment, told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Sharma didn’t comment in detail about former President Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), a man closely tied to American Moment. He rejected labels such as “postliberalism” while acknowledging that the former president had initiated a radical change in the American system.
“The ideological revolution that President Trump started in our party in 2015 is going to continue,” Mr. Sharma predicted, describing the junior Ohio senator as the former president’s “chosen successor.”
An Idaho delegate, Forrest Tomlin, told The Epoch Times he hopes the former president will talk about one of his signature pledges: to build the wall between the United States and Mexico.
Hogan Rips Shirt to Reveal Trump–Vance Shirt
50 days ago
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, firing up the crowd, took off his suit jacket, and ripped his shirt to reveal a Trump–Vance shirt underneath.
The crowd went wild.
"I didn't come here as Hulk Hogan, but I just had to give you a little taste of my name,” he said. “My name is Terry Bollea.”
He endorsed former President Trump, saying he could not be silent following the attempted assassination of him.
“As an entertainer, I tried to stay out of politics, but after everything that's happened to our country over the past four years, and everything that happened last weekend, I can no longer stay silent,” he said.
Hulk Hogan speaks on the last day of the RNC in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 18, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Trump Enters Again, This Time With Ivanka and Jared
50 days ago
Former President Donald Trump re-entered the arena and walked up to his box shortly before wrestling icon Hulk Hogan addressed the crowd.
He was joined by members of his family including his daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner—both of whom served in the Trump administration but have not been involved in his current presidential campaign.
President Trump is scheduled to be the last speaker of the night after accepting the GOP presidential nomination.
Forgiato Blow: ‘The Media Is Dangerous’
50 days ago
Rapper Forgiato Blow was one of many Trumpworld personalities working the halls of the Fiserv Forum.
In an interview with The Epoch Times, he defended the appearance of model and rapper Amber Rose at the RNC, describing her as key to building a bigger constituency—in line with the “big tent” theme resounding through Milwaukee.
He said the hip-hop world loved Trump before his presidency.
What does he think changed? “The media is dangerous, man,” he said.
Tucker Carlson: ‘A Leader Is the Bravest Man’
50 days ago
Tucker Carlson said that former President Trump’s example in Pennsylvania exemplifies what it means to be a true leader.
“A leader is the bravest man,” he said to applause.
“That is true in all human organizations. This is a law of nature,” he said, crediting the president’s bravery with preventing a chaotic situation from spiraling further out of control.
Mr. Carlson, who attributed former President Trump’s survival to “divine intervention,” said he spoke to him soon after the incident. He said former President Trump never mentioned himself during that private conversation.
Mr. Carlson also credited former President Trump with projecting a unifying message to the nation after the incident.
“He turned down the most obvious opportunity in politics to inflame the nation after being shot,” he said.
He also praised the vice presidential pick, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), describing him as a personal friend and “thoroughly decent.”
Like other speakers at the convention, Mr. Carlson lingered on the theme of God—expected at any Republican event, but imbued with new power after the former president’s brush with mortality.
“God is among us right now, and that is enough,” he told the crowd.
Tucker Carlson, founder of Tucker Carlson Network, speaks on the last day of the RNC in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 18, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Trump Rally Shooting Victim Corey Comperatore Honored by Mourners
American flags line the entrance to Freeport Community Park, where Corey Comperatore was remembered in two public viewings on July 18, 2024. (Jeff Louderback/Epoch Times)
Jeff Louderback
Last Updated:
FREEPORT, Pa.—A steady stream of mourners from around the country gathered in Freeport on July 18 to honor the life of Corey Comperatore, the 50-year-old retired fire chief who was killed last Saturday when a gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
A husband and father of two daughters, Mr. Comperatore took his family to former President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, about a half-hour from his home in rural western Pennsylvania.
From bleacher seats behind the podium, he watched former President Trump speak. When gunfire erupted, Mr. Comperatore threw himself on top of his family to shield them.
Mr. Comperatore’s wife, Helen, revealed in an interview with The New York Post that her husband’s final words were, “Get down!”
President Trump’s ear was grazed by the shooting. Mr. Comperatore lost his life. Two other Pennsylvania men shot at the rally—David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74—were upgraded from critical to serious condition on July 18, according to Allegheny Health Network.
The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the gunman. He was killed by Secret Service snipers.
Outside of Laube Hall at Freeport Community Park, Mr. Comperatore’s mourners expressed sadness and told The Epoch Times that the engineer who graduated from Freeport High School was a hero.
Mr. Comperatore was a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves and served as chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company before stepping away to spend more time with his family. He was a life member of the department and his fire gear is displayed at the firehouse.
On July 18, fire trucks from multiple departments around the region were seen outside of Laube Hall.
Former fire chief James Kuhn and his 12-year-old daughter, Isabella, paid their respects to Corey Comperatore in Freeport, Pa. on July 18, 2024. (Jeff Louderback/Epoch Times)
Brothers in Uniform
James Kuhn is a retired fire chief in Pulaski Township, about 40 miles from Buffalo Township. He attended Mr. Comperatore’s viewing to show respect for his “brother” and “honor a hero.”Mr. Kuhn told The Epoch Times that he never met Mr. Comperatore, but he had been to the Buffalo Township volunteer fire station and worked with the station’s firefighters at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, where the Comperatore family lives.
“It’s a brotherhood, first and foremost,” Mr. Kuhn said about the connection among firefighters. “We support each other. We have each other’s backs. It’s like I told my guys, if you don’t have your brother’s back, you are in the wrong room.”
Mr. Kuhn talked to The Epoch Times moments after leaving Laube Hall. He stood in the hot afternoon sun with his 12-year-old daughter, Isabella.
“It’s the nature of a firefighter to protect others and go into danger. He showed that, protecting his family and giving his life. He showed the man he is, and I say is, not was, because he left a legacy that lives,” Mr. Kuhn said.
Firefighters, family, and friends were among the crowd of more than 1,000 people who paid their respects to Mr. Comperatore. Mourners also included men and women from around the country who felt compelled to honor him.
Arizona resident Verne Cissman, who was born in the Pittsburgh area, attended a public viewing to honor Corey Comperatore in Freeport, Pa. on July 18, 2024. (Jeff Louderback/Epoch Times)
Verne Cissman was born in the Pittsburgh area but his family moved out of state when he was in elementary school. He returns for his birthday every year, and this time the trip coincided with former President Trump’s rally in Butler.
Mr. Cissman told The Epoch Times he decided to stay for Mr. Comperatore’s memorial service because “I feel a connection with someone I never knew.”
“He’s a man of faith; so am I. He’s a father, as am I, and he loved MercyMe’s ‘I Can Only Imagine.’ I’ve sung that song in church. I felt I needed to be here to show respect for a man who believed in what I believe in.”
“Some friends have told me that I’m part of history because I was at the rally, but it’s horrible to be part of that history. I would rather it had been like every other Trump rally and he was still here,” Mr. Cissman said, referring to Mr. Comperatore.
Scott Docherty, 68, is president of CID Associates, a manufacturing company in Sarver. Mr. Comperatore’s stepbrother, Steve Warheit, works at the firm.
Mr. Docherty said that Mr. Warheit told him the Comperatore family wasn’t originally sitting in the seats, but instead standing to to the left behind the podium.
“Someone from the campaign team said there were four open seats up front, and would they like to sit there. Corey said yes,” Mr. Docherty said. “Talk about a freak accident, and a tragedy.”
Before excusing himself to attend the viewing, Mr. Docherty said, “A man lost his life because of the hatred in this country. This hatred has to stop. Instead of having a civilized conversation with somebody, people are killing each other. The world has to change, and it needs to change fast.”
The U.S. flag is flown at half-staff at the Buffalo Township, Pa., Volunteer Fire Station to honor former chief Corey Comperatore on July 18, 2024. (Jeff Louderback/Epoch Times)
Community Mourns
At the Buffalo Township volunteer fire station, an American flag blew in the breeze at half-staff to remember Mr. Comperatore. Firefighters at the company have said that they are not surprised their former chief died protecting his family.Three consecutive days of events to honor Mr. Comperatore were scheduled in the region.
Lernerville Speedway hosted a candlelight vigil on July 17. Two public viewings were slated for July 18 in Freeport. Mr. Comperatore’s funeral, which is private, will take place on July 19 at Cabot Methodist Church in Sarver.
About 500 fire trucks are expected to take part in a procession before and after the funeral, and law enforcement officials are preparing for crowds to line the funeral procession route.
Earlier this week, former President Trump called Mrs. Comperatore to offer his condolences, and she wrote about the call in a post on Facebook.
“He was very kind and said he would continue to call me in the days and weeks ahead,” she said.
“I told him the same thing I told everyone else: He left this world a hero and God welcomed him in,” Mrs. Comperatore said in reference to her late husband. ”He did not die in vain that day.”
President Joe Biden called Mrs. Comperatore, but she told the New York Post that she didn’t talk to him because “my husband was a devout Republican and he would not have wanted me to talk to him.”
His daughter, Allyson Comperatore, wrote on social media that her father was the “best dad a girl could ask for” and said “my sister and I never needed for anything.”
“He could talk and make friends with anyone, which he was doing all day yesterday and loved every minute of it. He was a man of God, loved Jesus fiercely, and also looked after our church and our members as family,” she wrote.
Two GoFundMe campaigns have raised millions of dollars in the aftermath of the shooting.
James Bubb, who owns a Cabot gym where Ms. Allyson Comperatore is a member, organized a fundraiser to benefit Mrs. Comperatore. As of July 18, it had generated more than $1.2 million
A “President Trump authorized” initiative was launched by Meredith O’Rourke, who is former President Trump’s top campaign staffer. According to the fundraiser description, it is raising money for those “wounded or killed” at last Saturday’s rally.
The fundraiser’s initial goal was to collect $1 million, but as of July 18, it had generated more than $5.3 million.
Sharing Memories
At Lernerville Speedway on July 17, residents gathered for a candlelight vigil to reflect on Mr. Comperatore’s life.“Where do you start when you’re asked to speak about somebody who’s so loved and one that showed his love for his family,” Dan Ritter said at the vigil.
Faith, family, and freedom—in that order—are what Mr. Comperatore loved, Mr. Ritter said.
Corey Comperatore, a retired fire chief from Sarver, Pa., was killed on July 13, 2024, while shielding his family from gunfire during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa. (Photo provided by Comperatore family via AP)
Mr. Ritter said that Mr. Comperatore was also a fishing enthusiast.
“If his fishing rod could speak, you would all be hearing some great fishing stories,” Mr. Ritter said.
Kelly McCollough, who organized the vigil, told the audience that political views were not important at the event.
“Tonight is an important message of unity, as far as this community goes,” Mrs. McCullough said. “We are broken, and we are broken for the Comperatore family. We need clarity in this chaos. We need strength. We need healing.”
Mr. Ritter said he was not surprised when he learned of his close friend’s actions at the rally.
“He did what a good father would do. You protect those you love. He’s a true hero for us all. I want to personally let the family know that he loved you all and he was proud to tell me about it,” Mr. Ritter said.
Mr. Ritter remembered a social media post that Mr. Comperatore wrote when he struggled to find his life purpose.
“When I look at my daughters, I can see a purpose. My wife and I raised them well,” Mr. Ritter noted about what Mr. Comperatore wrote.
Trump Lawyer Recalls Handing Phone to Trump Supporter
50 days ago
Trump lawyer Alina Habba recalled walking the streets of Manhattan after a trial when she heard a man nearby say “God bless you and President Trump.”
She was on the phone with President Trump as this was happening and the former president asked Ms. Habba to put the man on the phone.
He got to “spend time speaking to him and thanking him for his support,” Ms. Habba recalled.
She represented former President Trump in his civil trial.
Steve Wifkoff Recalls His Call With Trump After Assassination Attempt
50 days ago
Entrepreneur and friend of former President Donald Trump Steve Wifkoff reflected on their phone call after Saturday’s assassination attempt.
Mr. Wifkoff said he expected to get a voicemail, but was surprised to find out that not only did former President Trump pick up the phone, but he asked nothing of himself.
“He just came within an inch of his own life ending,” Mr. Wifkoff said. “But he picked up the phone and said, ‘Hi Steve. I'm really glad you called. How are you? How are your kids?’”
Mr. Wifkoff went on to say that former President Trump’s greeting shouldn’t have surprised him.
“President Trump is as kind and compassionate a man as I’ve ever met in my lifetime,” he said.
Former President Donald J. Trump during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 18, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Trump Walks Into Convention
50 days ago
Shortly before 8 p.m. ET, former President Donald Trump walked into the Fiserv Forum to thunderous applause. He entered his box with guests including Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and GOP Senate candidates including Eric Hovde and Sam Brown.
He is scheduled to be the final speaker of the convention. His speech is expected to run 90 minutes.
Pompeo Touts Trump Admin's Foreign Policy
50 days ago
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo touted the Trump administration’s foreign policy accomplishments.
He mentioned the “maximum pressure” campaign of sanctions on Iran and the destruction of the Islamic State caliphate.
Mr. Pompeo, who also served as President Donald Trump’s CIA director, contrasted the former president’s policies with the current administration when it comes to Afghanistan, China, Russia and Iran.
Corey Comperatore Remembered
50 days ago
FREEPORT, Pa.—A steady stream of mourners from around the country gathered in Freeport on July 18 to honor the life of Corey Comperatore, the 50-year-old retired fire chief who was killed last Saturday when a gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
From bleacher seats behind the podium, he watched former President Trump speak. When gunfire erupted, Mr. Comperatore threw himself on top of his family to shield them. His last words were, “Get down!” his wife, Helen, told the New York Post.
Mr. Comperatore served as chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company before stepping away to spend more time with his family.
James Kuhn is a retired fire chief in Pulaski Township, around 40 miles from Buffalo Township. He attended Mr. Comperatore’s viewing to show respect for his “brother” and “honor a hero.”
“It’s the nature of a firefighter to protect others and go into danger. He showed that, protecting his family and giving his life. He showed the man he is, and I say is, not was, because he left a legacy that lives,” Mr. Kuhn said.
David Axelrod: No Comment on Biden Drop Out Rumors
50 days ago
Striding through the halls of the Fiserv Forum, Democrat strategist and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, David Axelrod told The Epoch Times he won't comment on a report that President Biden may drop out this weekend.
White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates refuted the report, saying “this fan fiction is wrong.”
Media coverage of the RNC in Milwaukee has emphasized the “unity” among Republicans.
Mr. Axelrod sounded a note of skepticism over the unity theme, while noting that former President Trump was expected to “keep it up high.”
“Everyone keeps signaling …he wants to be a unifying figure tonight,” he told The Epoch Times.
Billionaire Businesswoman Shares Success Story
50 days ago
Diane Hendricks took the stage in Milwaukee and introduced herself as “living proof that the American dream is possible with hard work and determination.”
“Today, the American dream is under threat,” she said. “Prices have risen over 20 percent. Aspiring entrepreneurs can't afford to take out a loan at 7, 10, 15 percent interest. Regulations have surged, and the administration has proposed $7 trillion in tax increases.
“I know how hard it is to build a company from nothing. And we need a president who understands that too.”
The self-made woman shared her story of growing up on a dairy farm as one of nine children, facing motherhood at 17, working two jobs just to get by, and finding her “passion” for real estate.
She spoke of meeting her husband, with whom she would build her empire, ABC Supply, and continue to fight for it after he passed away.
She proudly proclaimed that her company has quadrupled in size since her husband died and is now the largest distributor in the country, employing more than 22,000 Americans.
She is now worth more than $20 billion and has topped Forbes’s list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women for seven years in a row.
“My success story as a teenage mom without a college degree was only possible because I was so blessed to be born in the United States of America,” she said.
She also gave thanks for her seven children, and on her teenage pregnancy: “I truly believe that every life is a sacred gift from God.”
Trump Won’t Say Biden’s Name During Speech, Source Says
50 days ago
“Joe Biden” won’t show up anywhere in former President Donald Trump’s remarks tonight.
A source familiar with the speech confirmed to The Epoch Times that the Republican Party’s choice for president will omit his chief rival’s name.
Former President Trump said he rewrote his speech after an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on July 13.
His campaign staff also confirmed to The Epoch Times that the former president is writing his own remarks, a departure from the norm.
The GOP standard bearer’s remarks will cap off a convention whose participants have strived to project the image of unity.
Wisconsin delegates wear cheese hats during the last day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 18, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Rep. Burchett Predicts ‘Different Donald Trump’ Will Emerge in RNC Remarks
50 days ago
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told The Epoch Times he expects to see “a different Donald Trump” tonight, when the former president delivers his first public speech since surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last weekend.
“I hope it sticks,” Mr. Burchett said.
What to Expect From Trump’s Speech Tonight
Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump attends the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Janice Hisle
Last Updated:
MILWAUKEE—Former President Donald Trump’s acceptance speech this evening will put the capstone on the series of emotional, historic events that preceded it, delegates and a political scientist say.
His campaign staff confirmed to The Epoch Times that the former president is writing his own remarks, a departure from the norm.
The speech, which will formalize his nomination as the Republicans’ presidential candidate, promises to be one of the most important he has made since entering political life in 2015. It is set for just after 9 p.m. CT. His running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), accepted the party’s nomination for vice president on July 17.
Just days ago, the 78-year-old former president survived an assassination attempt, then jumped headlong into one of the most extraordinary political gatherings that political scientist Susan MacManus has ever seen.
“I’ve been covering conventions since 1992, and I’ve never seen the energy among Republicans that I’ve seen at this conference—never,” Ms. MacManus told The Epoch Times on July 18, the final day of the Republican National Convention.
She said a combination of factors had coalesced support for former President Trump, turning the ideal of “unity” into an apparent reality for the party faithful. She believes he will reinforce that notion during his speech, emphasize his policies, and compare his record to that of the incumbent, President Joe Biden.
Robin Medeiros, 63, an alternate delegate from Pennsylvania, told The Epoch Times that she has frequently volunteered for political campaigns over the years but has never seen “everyone really unifying and just coming together as one.”
“I feel it. It’s so incredible. You walk into that convention, and you just feel it,” she said.
Ms. Medeiros and others said support for former President Trump, his policies, and his performance as president during 2017-21 had already been strong. But the criminal prosecutions he has faced and the attempt to take his life multiplied that effect.
Immediately after being shot at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13, former President Trump rose to his feet. As blood trickled down his face, he pumped his fist in the air and shouted, “Fight!”—a chant repeated dozens of times since the GOP convention began on July 15.
That moment reflected his grit—and amplified respect for him, Ms. Medeiros said.
“He wanted to let everybody know that he’s still there and still fighting for them,” she said.
“It’s just a positive thing, and he’s showing his strength, and he’s showing that he’s there for us still, even though he had just been shot.”
As the nation watches his acceptance speech, Ms. MacManus said people are expecting the former president to appear presidential and strong and to again emphasize the party’s unification.
The former president has also benefited from the current uncertainty inside the Democratic Party, according to Ms. MacManus. President Biden has rebuffed calls for him to step aside that started after a poor debate performance at the end of June.Convention-goers realize that “if Biden steps down, the whole strategy and everything else changes in a heartbeat,” Ms. MacManus said. That’s why they say they know they cannot afford to become complacent about the former president’s chances of winning the Nov. 5 election.
Asked what she expects from the 45th president’s speech, Ms. Medeiros said, “I think he’s going to wrap it all up and say, you know, we just need to stick together, and we’re going to win this thing.”
“The air is so electrified here, and everyone is so positive—and we’re all going to walk away still feeling that.”
Delegates during the last day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 18, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
'Fight!' Becomes Rallying Cry for Kid Rock
50 days ago
MILWAUKEE—The music artist, Kid Rock, is expected to hit the stage tonight at the Republican National Convention with a customized version of his hit tune, “American Bad-[expletive].”
Thursday afternoon, the musician who is known not to mince words could be heard rehearsing in the Fiserv Forum, where the convention’s main events have been held.
He added the lyrics, “Trump! Trump!” and “Fight! Fight!” to the song, evoking the words that former President Donald Trump spoke after he rose to his feet, bloodied from a would-be assassin’s bullet, and pumped his fist in the air.
Convention-goers have repeatedly chanted, “Fight! Fight!” since events began on July 15.
On July 17, the former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., said his father demonstrated he is “Trump tough,” and said America is “Trump tough,” too.
Former Fox News Host Lou Dobbs Dies at Age 78
Lou Dobbs speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md., on Feb. 24, 2017. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
Zachary Stieber
Last Updated:
Lou Dobbs, a longtime television host, has died at age 78.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of ’the great Lou Dobbs,'” his representatives said in a statement on July 18.
“Lou was a fighter till the very end—fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family, and the country.”
Former President Donald Trump was among those mourning Mr. Dobbs, whom he described on social media as “a friend and truly incredible journalist, reporter, and talent.”
“Lou Dobbs was an exceptionally kind, generous, gracious, wonderful man in an industry that rewards none of those qualities. Yet he remained as kind as ever to the end,” Sean Davis, co-founder and CEO of The Federalist, said. “What a patriot.”
Mr. Dobbs leaves behind his wife, Debi Segura, and a number of children and grandchildren.
Born in Texas, he began in the news business as a reporter for KBLU, a radio station in Arizona. Mr. Dobbs went on to host shows for other local stations before joining CNN in 1980.
He left CNN in 2009, memorably announcing his departure on-air.
“It has become increasingly clear that strong winds of change have begun buffeting this country and affecting all of us, and some leaders in media, politics, and business have been urging me to go beyond the role here at CNN and to engage in constructive problem-solving as well as to contribute positively to a better understanding of the great issues of our day and to continue to do so in the most honest and direct language possible,” Mr. Dobbs said at the time.
After hosting a daily show for several years, Mr. Dobbs joined Fox News. His show debuted in 2011 and ran through 2021.
Fox canceled Mr. Dobbs’s program after being sued over election fraud allegations.
After leaving Fox, he continued hosting a program, which aired on his website and iHeart Radio.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Lou Dobbs,“ a Fox spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email. ”An incredible business mind with a gift for broadcasting, Lou helped pioneer cable news into a successful and influential industry. We are immensely grateful for his many contributions and send our heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Mr. Dobbs was known for being a staunch opponent of illegal immigration, a topic he regularly touched on during his show. He openly supported former President Donald Trump and some of his policies.
Mr. Dobbs over his life won numerous awards, including an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement.
Biden’s Doctor Provides Health Update After COVID-19 Diagnosis
President Joe Biden boards Air Force One to depart for Delaware from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on July 17, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)
Jacob Burg
Last Updated:
President Joe Biden’s White House physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, released a letter on July 18 with an update on the president’s COVID-19 symptoms after he tested positive the day before.
“The President is still experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms associated with his recent COVID-19 infection. He continues to receive Paxlovid,” Dr. O'Connor said.
“He does not have a fever and his vital signs remain normal. He will continue to conduct the business of the American people. With the President’s permission, I will continue to provide regular updates, as we have done before.”
President Biden tested positive for the virus prior to a planned speech at the UnidosUS Annual Conference in Las Vegas. He canceled his remaining events and immediately boarded Air Force One to return to his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
“I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes,” President Biden said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after his positive test.
“I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time, I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a July 17 statement that President Biden will self-isolate at his Delaware home, where he will “continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.”
In an interview with Ed Gordon of BET News that was taped on July 16 in Las Vegas but aired on the evening of July 17, President Biden said he would only withdraw from the presidential race if doctors informed him of a relevant medical condition.
“If I had some medical condition that emerged,” President Biden said in response to whether there was anything that might change his mind regarding his candidacy. “If doctors came to me and said, ‘You got this problem, that problem.’”
The president also acknowledged concerns about his age and mental fitness after his first debate with former President Donald Trump on June 27.
“I made a serious mistake in the whole debate,” he said.
President Biden tested positive for the virus a day after the interview. His staff said on July 17 that his remaining events in Las Vegas are canceled while he quarantines in Delaware.
During a July 18 news conference in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention, the Biden campaign reiterated the president’s intention to stay in the race.
“Our campaign is not working through any scenarios where President Biden is not the top of the ticket. He is and will be the Democratic nominee,” Principal Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks told reporters.
Here’s Tonight’s Speaker Schedule
51 days ago
On the final night of the RNC, here’s a list of notable speakers, in chronological order:
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Tucker Carlson
Hulk Hogan
Rev. Franklin Graham
Eric Trump
UFC CEO Dana White
Former President Donald Trump
The program is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Biden Campaign Responds to Navarro at RNC
51 days ago
A campaign manager for President Joe Biden’s re-election bid condemned an appearance by Peter Navarro at the Republican National Convention.
“I think that it tells you everything you need to know about who the Republican Party is under Donald Trump, having somebody who is fresh out of prison for contempt of Congress take the stage,” Quentin Fulks told The Epoch Times.
The former director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing appeared at the convention after finishing a four-month stint in prison earlier that day. He was convicted on criminal contempt of Congress after defying the House’s Jan. 6 Committee.
In his remarks, Mr. Navarro noted that other officials didn't face criminal prosecution for the same charge.
Soon after Mr. Navarro's appearance, Grace Chong, chief operating officer for Steve Bannon's The War Room Podcast, told The Epoch Times that “it was incredible to see Dr. Navarro as a free man.” Mr. Bannon is currently in prison on his own, similar contempt charges.
Ms. Chong noted that Mr. Bannon will host the podcast on July 18.
Biden Staying in the Race, Says Campaign
51 days ago
President Joe Biden is staying in the presidential race, his campaign reiterated on July 18.
“Our campaign is not working through any scenarios where President Biden is not the top of the ticket. He is and will be the Democratic nominee,” principal deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks told reporters.
The confirmation was made as some Democrats remain concerned over the viability of the president’s candidacy since his debate last month with former President Trump.
President Biden is in quarantine at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home after testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
Officers Alerted Tactical Channel About ‘Suspicious Male’ Before Trump Shooting
The stage where former President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pa., on July 14, 2024. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)
Jack Phillips
Last Updated:
The manager of the Pennsylvania township that hosted a campaign rally where a gunman fired shots at former President Donald Trump on July 13 said that local officers radioed a call on a tactical channel about a “suspicious male” near the warehouse where he ultimately perched.
In a statement released on July 17, Butler Township Manager Tom Knights said that after the former president arrived, “a call went out for a suspicious male near the AGR building,” referring to the warehouse that was used by Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Multiple officers who were on traffic duty for the rally “broke free from their traffic intersections ... to aid in the search” for the suspicious person, the statement said.
It added, “A search was conducted around the AGR building and the person of interest was not located, and no ladder was discovered.”
During interviews with NBC News and Fox News, Mr. Knights said that a “blanket tactical channel” was used and that individuals on the channel heard the call about a suspicious male.
“Everyone who was on that tactical channel heard it,” he told NBC News.
It isn’t clear from the interviews whether the Secret Service had been using the tactical channel that Mr. Knights mentioned.
The Secret Service and Mr. Knights’s office didn’t respond by publication time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. The federal agency, meanwhile, hasn’t issued a response either in a public statement or through a spokesperson about Mr. Knights’s statement regarding the call on the channel.
Mr. Knights said in the interviews and in his statement that an officer tried to gain access to the roof where Mr. Crooks was perched when the suspect then pointed a rifle at him, forcing the officer to drop down to ground level.
Butler Township Police then immediately said the individual on the roof had a weapon, and moments later, he started firing at the rally, according to the statement.
One person was killed in the shooting, and two were injured but are in stable condition, Pennsylvania State Police said. Former President Trump was struck in the ear and appeared to be fine during his public appearances at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week.
Aside from Mr. Butler’s statement, a Butler County District Attorney, Richard Goldinger, said a local police officer fired at the gunman after he opened fire, although it’s not clear whether the officer struck the assailant. The Secret Service confirmed that one of its counter-snipers shot and killed Mr. Crooks.
“Our guys did engage him,” Mr. Goldinger told the NY Times on July 17, adding that the local officer’s gunfire prompted a “reaction” from Mr. Crooks. He didn’t elaborate.
Butler County, he said, provided assistance to the Secret Service at the rally by deploying officers near a barn as well as four fast-response teams and four sniper teams. No local officer was inside the building that Mr. Crooks had climbed on, he said.
Also on July 17, Mr. Goldinger said the Secret Service was told by local police that it “did not have manpower to assist with securing that building.”
“I don’t know whose responsibility that building was,” he said. “But somebody should have been there.”
Since the shooting, questions have emerged about whether the Secret Service did enough to try to prevent such an incident from occurring. A number of Republican lawmakers, including members of the Senate GOP leadership, called for the director’s resignation on July 17 following a Secret Service briefing with members of Congress.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who has said she wouldn’t step down, told CNN this week that her agency had “divided up areas of responsibility” for the rally but the Secret Service is “solely responsible” for the security design.
“Secret Service respects local law enforcement, and we could not do our job, either investigatively or on our protective mission, without them. In Pennsylvania, in fact, on that same day, they were also working the first lady trip and the vice presidential trip. So, I understand the constraints that they’re under, and as I said earlier, we couldn’t do our job without them,” she said.
Investigations into the matter are already underway. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a subpoena on July 17 to Ms. Cheatle to ensure she appears at a House Oversight hearing planned for July 22.
Also, the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general said on the agency’s website that it’s opening a review on the incident.
JD Vance Spotlights Working Class America in Acceptance Speech
Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) speaks during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 17, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Nathan Worcester
Last Updated:
MILWAUKEE—Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) formally accepted the Republican Party’s vice presidential nomination on July 17, pitching himself as a fighter for the forgotten corners of America.
“I will be a vice president who never forgets where he came from,” the lawyer and venture capitalist, originally from Middletown, Ohio, told the crowd at the Republican National Convention, one day before former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak.
Mr. Vance commended his running mate for his resilience days after an attempt on his life in Pennsylvania.
“President Trump flew to Milwaukee and got back to work!” the freshman senator said.
The vice presidential candidate was raised in Middletown, Ohio, by his grandmother, “Mamaw,” a woman he described as a bundle of contradictions: a deeply religious woman who “also loved the F word.”
“I’m not kiddin’. She could make a sailor blush,” he said, later telling the story of discovering after his grandmother’s death that she kept 19 loaded handguns around her house. A young Mr. Vance went into his grandmother’s care as his mother was battling with drug addiction. His father had left when he was a toddler.
The VP hopeful underscored his unconventional story by introducing his mother, Beverly, now sober for almost a decade, who was standing beside House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in the audience.
Former President Donald Trump (L) acknowledges Beverly Vance (R), the mother of Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 17, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
Mr. Vance chronicled his story in the best-selling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which was later adapted into a Netflix movie, starring Glenn Close as Mamaw and Amy Adams as Beverly.
Mr. Vance was introduced to the stage by his wife, Usha, also an attorney. She grew up the daughter of Indian immigrant scientists in San Diego.
The two met at Yale Law School, which Mr. Vance attended after serving in the Marine Corps and attending college at Ohio State University.
“That JD and I could meet at all, let alone fall in love and marry, is a testament to this great country,” Ms. Vance said in her speech. The couple have three children.
Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), speaks during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 17, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Mr. Vance said that the United States welcomes immigrants, but “on our terms.”
Echoing World War II veteran Bill Pekrul, who also spoke on the evening of July 17, Mr. Vance meditated on the theme of American identity. He began his speech with talk of hope, saying that America is more than an idea.
“It is a group of people with a shared history and a common future. It is, in short, a nation,” he said.
The Ohioan also echoed language from Teamsters leader Sean O'Brien, who delivered a fiery and, for the venue, uncharacteristic speech about the threat posed by corporate power in politics on July 16.
Both Mr. Vance and Mr. O'Brien said they hold visions to advance the interests of both unionized and non-unionized workers.
Mr. Vance blamed high housing prices on Wall Street and a growing population of illegal immigrants in the United States.
“Citizens had to compete with people who shouldn’t even be here for precious housing,” he said.
He defended Middle America, including Midwestern states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan—all key to the more Rust Belt Republican coalition that first vaulted former President Trump to the White House.
“There still is so much talent and grit in the American heartland,” Mr. Vance said.
Tough Talk
Mr. Vance, who has cast himself as a foreign policy realist who stands opposed to needless war, sounded Trump-like on the subject of military intervention.“When we punch, we’re gonna punch hard,” he said, citing President Trump’s actions against ISIS.
His speech was also full of the expected criticisms of President Joe Biden, other Democrats, and their policies.
Yet alongside the tough talk, Mr. Vance signaled a willingness to listen to various perspectives.
“Sometimes, I persuade my colleagues, and sometimes, they persuade me,” he said. He also called for Republicans to “debate ideas and come to the best solution.”
Earlier in the day, Democrat and progressive Young Turks commentator Cenk Uygur told The Epoch Times he thinks that Mr. Vance’s populism might not be completely “fake.”
In his speech, Mr. Vance hinted that the 45th president’s great persuasion skills were what led to his change of heart toward the Republican leader.
When Mr. Trump was first elected in 2016, Mr. Vance was a staunch critic of the brash New York real estate developer.
That year, Mr. Vance voted for Evan McMullin, a third-party independent candidate and former CIA officer.
The Ohio lawmaker previously called the man with whom he is now sharing a ticket “reprehensible.”
He walked back many of those comments in 2021, when he was running for Senate.
“And I ask folks not to judge me based on what I said in 2016, because I’ve been very open that I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy. I think he was a good president, I think he made a lot of good decisions for people, and I think he took a lot of flak,” Mr. Vance told Fox News.
In recent months, he has consistently defended the former president.
Biden Campaign Responds
The Biden–Harris campaign has questioned Mr. Vance’s talk of representing American workers and tied his candidacy to the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025.”Former President Trump has distanced himself from the conservative think tank’s policy blueprint—the latest in a series of similar policy outlines for the presidency that the group has been releasing for decades.
“JD Vance is unprepared, unqualified, and willing to do anything Donald Trump demands,” Michael Tyler, communications director for the Biden–Harris campaign, said in a July 17 statement.
While Mr. Vance’s speech dwelled on American workers, particularly those from battleground states in the Midwest, Mr. Tyler said a Trump–Vance ticket will harm “working families and the middle class.”
Ohio Republicans Proud of High-Flying Buckeye
The lawmaker comes from a likely place for a man who could be second in line to the presidency. Mr. Vance’s home state is known as the “cradle of presidents”—it’s the birthplace of seven of them.The Epoch Times interviewed Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and other members of the Ohio delegation on the convention floor, a day after the former president revealed he had chosen Mr. Vance as his running mate.
Since then, delegate Debbie Lang and her husband, Ohio Sen. George Lang, said the state’s 79 delegates have been filled with pride and excitement.
A resident of Butler County, Ohio, where Mr. Vance grew up, Mr. Lang said, “He is bringing Butler County values to Washington: family, faith, hard work.”
“He is the epitome that, in America, it doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finish that counts,” Mr. Lang said.
“He had a terrible, tough, hard upbringing—and he survived,” Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones said.
During Mr. Vance’s speech, the Ohio delegation took up a chant of “Mamaw!”
After the speech, Mr. DeWine told The Epoch Times that the fellow Ohioan’s life story would reach men and women in battleground states, especially where manufacturing has declined.
“I think that his appeal transcends politics.”
After Injured Trump Arrived at Pennsylvania Hospital, ER Patients Prayed
Patients and their loved ones had just learned that former President Donald Trump had been shot when he arrived at Butler Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania on July 13, 2014. (Courtesy of Rick Foerster)
Beth Brelje
Last Updated:
With temperatures in the 90s, an ambulance was making round trips between the July 13 Pennsylvania Trump rally and the Butler Memorial Hospital. That is according to Karen Foerster, 53, who was among those overcome by the heat.
She and her husband Rick Foerster, 56, attend most Trump rallies within a 100-mile radius from their Beaver County, Pennsylvania, home. This time they had front row seats.
They arrived at 9 a.m. and gates opened at 1 p.m., but just as the first speakers started, Ms. Foerster was feeling sick from the heat. Her husband had gone to get some drinks in the car. She recalled seeing a shade tree when she entered through the event gate, so she decided to seek shade there. On her way, she ran into her husband with the drinks. He immediately recognized she was sick. He called for help and soon, a golf cart came along and whisked her to the medical tent. Before long, she was in an ambulance on her way to the hospital.
Medics told her there was also a car show at the airport and the hospital was very busy with many heat-related calls from both events. When they arrived, she said the waiting room was crowded.
Ms. Foerster went into a room with a nurse and noticed the nurse was watching the Trump rally on her computer. The nurse took her for a test and on their way back, the husband came running up to them with the news.
“I ran down the hallway toward the bathroom and I went, ‘Karen! Karen! Trump was just shot in the head,” Mr. Foerster told The Epoch Times. He had been near another rally attendee who received a phone call from someone still at the rally who reported what had happened.
The nurse and Ms. Foerster were in disbelief. A woman they met in the waiting room fell against the wall and immediately started crying.
They worried about their friends still at the rally: Were they in danger? And what did they see?
“What a horrible, horrible thing to witness,” Ms. Foerster told The Epoch Times.
Pennsylvania State Police vehicle with broken window arrived at the Butler Memorial Hospital with former President Trump’s motorcade. View from Emergency room waiting area, July 13, 2024. (Courtesy Rick Foerster)
She knew they were at the closest hospital and thought it was likely they would bring the former president there. A lot of people were crying. Most in the waiting room had heard the former president had been shot in the head but didn’t know he was able to walk to the car.
“Next thing I know, cops fly in, Secret Service flies up, and the shortest girl gets out, starts pointing at windows and doors, and telling people where to go,” Ms. Foerster said.
The hospital immediately went into lockdown, the Foersters said, and the computer system was down at that time, seemingly as part of the security protocol. People gathered by the window of the emergency room and watched as former President Trump emerged from his vehicle. They were elated once they saw him walking on his own. Secret Service had him surrounded.
Mr. Foerster recorded the moments on video and in photos. He did get one blurry photo of the former president. Most compelling were the voices of concern in the waiting room. Later they learned the bullet struck his ear and narrowly missed his skull.
At the same time former President Trump arrived, a state police vehicle that looked like it was part of the motorcade also arrived. That vehicle had a shattered front driver’s side window, and the people in the emergency room thought someone in that vehicle was being treated medically.
The Pennsylvania State Police told The Epoch Times in an email that “the trooper had to enter the vehicle quickly and did not have a key fob.”
Waiting Room
Mr. Foerster announced to those in the waiting room that he and his wife were going to pray for the former president and invited others to join them in a corner.“We had four or five people come over and we just prayed and interceded for him. We held hands. Each one of us took a turn praying, and lifted him up,” Mr. Foerster said.
While in the waiting room, many people were comparing notes about the news coverage of the assassination attempt.
Mr. Foerster read a quote aloud, made by President Joe Biden days before.
“I have one job, and that’s to beat Donald Trump. I’m absolutely certain I’m the best person to be able to do that. So, we’re done talking about the debate. It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye,” President Biden reportedly said on a private donor call.
Security detail guarding the door when former President Donald Trump arrived at the Butler Memorial Hospital in Butler, Pa., seen from the emergency room waiting area, on July 13, 2024. (Courtesy of Rick Foerster)
The Secret Service overheard the word bullseye and took Mr. Foerster into a room for questioning. He explained that he was reading the news, that he loves former President Trump and has attended many of his rallies. The agent let him go.
No one was allowed to leave until former President Trump left. But this time, before he made his way to the car, the Secret Service came into the waiting room, closed the shades, and said, no more photos and videos, Mr. Foerster said.
It struck Ms. Foerster that they had witnessed a moment in history from a different vantage point than most people experienced that day. The couple left the hospital that evening, with Ms. Foerster in better health, and even a bit grateful that her illness sent them to the hospital, so they were not present for the shooting.
Vance, Working Class, Gold Star Families Honored: Takeaways From Day 3 of RNC
Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) speaks during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 17, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Lawrence Wilson
Last Updated:
MILWAUKEE—Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance headlined Day 3 of the Republican National Convention, presenting former President Donald Trump as the man who will champion the American worker and restore the nation to a position of strength in the world.
In an acceptance speech that highlighted his humble beginnings in an economically depressed industrial town in Ohio, Mr. Vance touted the former president’s record in building the economy, championing working Americans, and securing the country.
For most of the night, political speeches took a backseat to personal stories and the party hammered the themes of border security, military strength, and strength on the international stage against Lady Liberty’s adversaries.
Here are the key takeaways from Day 3 of the Republican National Convention.
1. JD Vance Tells His Story
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), the winner of former President Trump’s extended “veepstakes,” formally accepted the GOP’s vice president nomination in a lengthy speech that cast himself as worthy of the trust of the average American and lauded former President Trump as a champion of the forgotten man and woman.The lawmaker and “Hillbilly Elegy” author unspooled his deep and complex story, which began in Ohio, where he was raised by his grandmother due largely to his mother’s substance abuse issues.
He went from Middle America to the Marine Corps and then Yale Law School, where he met his wife, Usha—the daughter of Indian immigrants.
Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) speaks during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 17, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
Jane Timken, a Republican National Committeewoman from Ohio, said she was familiar with Mr. Vance’s story about the “tough grandma” who raised him. “I’m a tough woman too,” Ms. Timken said.
Mr. Vance, she added, was smart, thoughtful, and intelligent but also a fighter.
The candidate, a former venture capitalist, transitioned from a “Never Trumper” in 2016 to one of the rising intellectual forces in the MAGA movement.
Mr. Vance echoed former President Trump’s views on the Iraq War, which he called a “disastrous invasion,” China, the victor in a “sweetheart trade deal,” and more.
His RNC message was also explicitly aimed at Midwestern states that will be key to a Republican victory in November, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
He pledged to be “a vice president who never forgets where he came from.”
2. Personal Stories Highlighted
The GOP continued its strategy of personalizing its core issues by inviting ordinary people to tell their experiences.Highlighting the theme of border security, David Lara of the border town of San Luis, Arizona, told of Mexican drug cartels using school children to transport drugs through their community.
Shabbos Kestenbaum, an Orthodox Jewish student, told of harassment and death threats received at Harvard University. He has sued Harvard University for its alleged failure to combat anti-Semitism on campus.
Orna and Ronan Neutra spoke of their son Omer, who was taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. He is one of eight Americans who continue to be held in Gaza. “Imagine over nine months, not knowing whether your son is alive,” Ms. Neutra said.
World War II veteran William Pekrul, 98, recalled fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and seeing the horror of Nazi concentration camps firsthand.
“There aren’t many of us left,” he said, “but for those of us who still are here, America is still worth fighting for.” Mr. Pekrul said.
WWII Veteran Sergeant William Pekrul speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 17, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
3. Gold Star Families Honored
Personal recollections by families of some of the 13 military personnel who died in a suicide bombing attack during the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 backed the GOP’s emphasis on the need for military strength. The segment brought many convention attendees to tears.Grieving relatives paid tribute to those who died and expressed gratitude to former President Donald Trump for caring about them. Some also blamed President Biden mishandling the operation.
Sgt. Nicole Gee holding a baby at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan in an undated photo. (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)
Watching a video telling the story of Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, who was killed in the withdrawal, Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County, California, wept. He had intended to hire Mr. Lopez on his discharge from the military.
“The way that family was treated was not American,” Mr. Bianco told The Epoch Times.
Christy Shamblin, whose daughter, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, from Sacramento, California, was among those killed, said, “For the first time since Nicole’s death, I felt that I was not alone in my grief.”
After spending time with former President Trump, along with other Gold Star families, she said, “I had expected to meet an arrogant politician.” Instead, they said the former president was compassionate and caring.
4. Border Security Brought to Life
Republican speakers went light on statistics in conveying their urgency to secure the U.S. southern border. Instead, they portrayed the reality of life in border communities and described the impact of illegal immigration on the country.They did that through a series of personal accounts from property owners, video footage of people illegally entering the country, and speeches by elected officials frustrated over the steep increase in illegal immigration during the Biden administration.
Rep. Monica De La Cruz, whose Texas district includes a stretch of the border around the city of McAllen, told of her grandparents’ legal immigration from Mexico in pursuit of a better life but decried illegal immigration for its impact on the country.
“There’s nothing compassionate about open borders,” Ms. De La Cruz said. “They threaten our national security and flood our country with deadly drugs, killing our precious children.”
Arizona ranchers Jim and Sue Chilton told of some 5,000 illegal immigrants crossing into the United State through their property since April and showed video footage of the more than 3,500 of those in camouflage carrying backpacks. “These are not asylum seekers,” Mr. Chilton said.
President Biden, who has criticized Congress for failing to take action to secure the border, announced a series of immigration reform actions on June 4, including barring those who enter the country illegally from receiving asylum.
Daughter of Donald Trump Jr., Kai Trump speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis on July 17, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
5. Kai Trump Makes Political Debut
Kai Madison Trump, 17, the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr., made her political debut by delivering a speech about her grandfather, Donald Trump.The 17-year-old recounted anecdotes of the former president challenging her at golf, bragging about her grades to friends, and giving out snacks when her parents weren’t looking.
Miss Kai acknowledged that the former president is perceived negatively by many but said, “I know him for who he really is. He’s very caring and loving. He truly wants the best for this country.”
Barron Trump, the son of former President Donald and Melania Trump, made his political debut at a campaign rally in Doral, Florida, on July 9. The 18-year-old waved to acknowledge the crowd who was chanting his name but did not deliver remarks on July 17.
6. Fresh out of Prison, Peter Navarro Speaks Out
Peter Navarro—emeritus professor of economics and public policy at University of California, Irvine, and former Democrat—took the stage in Milwaukee to loud cheers and a standing ovation.“I went to prison so you don’t have to,” he told the crowd.
Mr. Navarro, who was appointed to lead the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy during the Trump administration for his book and documentary “Death by China,” had just emerged from a federal correctional institute in Miami, Florida, where he has been imprisoned for four months after being sentenced on criminal contempt of Congress charges for failing to comply with the anti-Trump Jan. 6 Committee.
“Guess what? They did not break me,” Mr. Navarro said.
Another figurehead of MAGA, Steve Bannon, recently went to prison under similar circumstances. Mr. Navarro spoke about that case too.
Peter Navarro walks off stage with his fiancee Bonnie on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 17, 2024. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Paul Ingrassia, a young Republican lawyer who was in attendance, said Mr. Navarro “spearheaded the intellectual movement” behind changing America’s approach to trade with China.
“I’m so grateful to see that he’s out of jail,” he said.
“That was the most passionate speech I’ve heard anyone give,” said George Phillips, a teenager attending the convention. It included an embrace and kiss between Mr. Navarro and his fiancée.
