TRULY HAVING A GRAND OLD PARTY
Lovefest for prez on convention’s 1st night
President Trump and his supporters kicked off the Republican National Convention with a bang Monday, employing an energetic, guest-packed slate making the case for four more years.
Those lending their voices to Trump’s re-election bid included eldest child Donald Jr., a slew of Capitol Hill allies, and supporters from across the country.
While most speeches were prerecorded, the night captured the energy and momentum at times missing during last week’s Democratic National Convention.
The president himself appeared in two segments from the White House, first with six essential workers on the front line of the pandemic.
“You represent an incredible group of people and we love you all,” Trump told the group, which included a truck driver, a police officer, a USPS employee and nurses, some of whom contracted the virus while on the job.
One nurse told Trump she was “in awe of his leadership” during the pandemic, while the president lavished praise on a postal worker amid his concerns about the USPS’s ability to handle a crush of mail-in ballots.
Trump appeared again later in the night alongside a group of American citizens freed from hostage situations abroad during his presidency.
“I was held in Turkey for two years and you took unprecedented steps to secure my release and your administration really fought for me,” said Pastor Andrew Brunson. “I think if you hadn’t done that, I still may be in Turkey.”
Trump said that he’s brought home more than 50 US hostages from 22 countries.
Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley also touted Trump’s foreign-policy work, while warning that the Democratic ticket — Joe Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris — might undo the progress.
“With his [Trump’s] leadership, we did what Barack Obama and Joe Biden refused to do,” she said. “We stood up for America.”
Haley cited the Trump administration’s crackdowns on North Korea and Iran, and strengthening ties with Israel.
“This president has a record of strength and success,” she said. “Joe Biden is good for Iran and ISIS, great for Communist China, and he’s a godsend to everyone who wants America to apologize, abstain and abandon our values.”
Veteran teacher and school-choice advocate Rebecca Friedrichs — whose suit against the California Teachers Association over forced unionism went before the Supreme Court in 2016 — had high praise for Trump.
“We’ll keep fighting for the country and children we love, just like President Trump,” she said. “He’s breaking the unions’ grip on our schools. That’s why unions have tried to destroy him.”
Donald Trump Jr. underscored the night’s theme as America as the “Land of Promise.”
“Trump’s America is a land of opportunity, a place of promise,” he said. “America is the greatest country on earth, but my father’s entire worldview revolves around the idea that we can always do even better.”
With [Trump’s] leadership, we did what Barack Obama and Joe Biden refused to do. We stood up for America. — Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley