What will Trump tell the RNC after an attempt on his life?

This episode delves into former President Donald Trump's anticipated speech at the Republican National Convention following an assassination attempt, and its implications for his campaign and political narrative.

1. Trump's speech at the RNC is expected to deviate from previous themes, emphasizing unity over division.
2. The assassination attempt has visibly shifted Trump's demeanor, making him appear more subdued and reflective.
3. Despite the change in tone, Trump's campaign continues to focus on themes of strength versus weakness.
4. The episode highlights a shift in Republican strategy, aiming to attract a broader voter base including working-class voters.
5. Trump's choice of JD Vance as vice president underscores his commitment to the "America First" agenda and signals a disregard for traditional GOP establishment concerns.

1. Opening Remarks

Ari Shapiro introduces the episode, setting the scene at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Ari Shapiro: "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the next president of the United States, Donald J. Trump."

2. The Impact of the Assassination Attempt

The episode explores the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt on Trump and its profound impact on his campaign strategy. Selena Zeto: "He understood that everything had changed for the country and for himself."

3. Trump's Campaign Strategy

Discussion on how Trump's campaign strategy has evolved, focusing on attracting diverse voter groups and emphasizing unity. Franco Ordonez: "It's very much Trump's party, particularly by tapping JD Vance as vice president."

4. The Anticipated Speech

Speculation about the content and tone of Trump's upcoming RNC speech. Chris Lacivita: "It's a lot about repetition and visualizing the issues."

1. Recognize the power of resilience in leadership—how personal trials can redefine a public figure's message and approach.
2. Understand the strategic use of unity in political campaigns to broaden voter appeal.
3. Analyze shifts in political rhetoric in response to critical events to better predict future political landscapes.
4. Observe how political figures adapt their campaigns in real-time to unexpected challenges.
5. Engage in discussions about the implications of security incidents on public figures and their public roles.

Donald Trump's message for America has long been one of grievance and retribution.

What will he say at the Republican National Convention this week, after an attempt on his life?

People

Donald J. Trump, Ari Shapiro, Franco Ordonez, Chris Lacivita, Selena Zeto

Content Warnings:

None

Ari Shapiro
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the next president of the United States, Donald J. Trump. This week, the Republican Party is laying out its vision of an America once again led by former President Donald Trump. Thousands of his supporters are gathered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in a hall filled with balloons and draped in red, white, and blue. Each night, people like House Speaker Mike Johnson have criticized the policies of the current administration, risk four more years of Joe Biden's weakness that has invited so much aggression by our enemies.

Other GOP leaders have cataloged a list of grievances about the state of the country. And we agree that Democrats have moved so far to the left that they're putting our freedoms in danger. If you want to seal the border, vote Trump. If you want. Our government has been no better, shredding our constitution and upending the rule of law.

That was Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ben Carson. As with any party convention, what happens Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday is mostly a warm up for the main event. Since he began his first presidential campaign, descending the golden escalator at Trump Tower in 2015, Donald Trump's message has been consistent. When was the last time anybody saw us beating, let's say, china in a trade deal? They kill us.

Ben Carson
I beat China all the time. All the time. That kind of messaging persisted once he took the oath of office in 2017. And the crime and the gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This american carnage stops right here and stops right now.

Ari Shapiro
And it continues as he campaigns for president for the third time. Biden is pushing the largest tax hike in american history. I will make the Trump tax cuts again, the biggest ever in history. We're going to make them permanent. They come due in a year.

All of those speeches came before a would be assassin opened fire during a rally last weekend in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump spoke with Washington examiner reporter Selena Zeto in the hours after the shooting. And she recounted that interview on CNN. And he said in that moment, he understood that everything had changed for the country and for himself.

Consider Donald Trump's message for America has been one of grievance and retribution. What will he say at the RNC this week after an attempt on his life?

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Ari Shapiro
Its consider this from NPR. Former President Donald Trump did a technical walkthrough on the floor of the Republican National Convention. He talked to organizers, stood before the podium and checked camera angles, all in preparation for the culmination of this week when he formally accepts the republican nomination for president. That speech comes after party leaders and regular folks address the delegates over the first three nights. Theyve all been laying out the Republican Partys vision for american it's Trump's turn to speak, and this speech is one of the key moments in the run up to the presidential election.

So what might Trump say? How might he say it? We're going to put those questions to NPR's Franco Ordonez, who is with us from Milwaukee. Hi, Franco. Hey, Ari.

Before we get to what Trump will say, I'd love for you to reflect on what we have seen so far this week because the 2016 RNC was pretty divided in 2020, it was more of Trump's Republican Party. How does the 2024 convention compare? Yeah, I mean, its very much Trumps party. I mean, particularly by tapping JD Vance as vice president instead of someone more experienced with deeper republican ties, you know, Trumps really doubling down on his America first agenda. I mean, this is a person who is not worried about losing moderate republican votes, you know, say Haley Republicans, for example, you know, who voted very largely against him in the primaries.

Vivek Ramaswamy
You know, if Trump were worried about those Republicans, Republicans or at least very worried about him, you know, he would have picked someone more like Florida Senator Marco Rubio or North Dakota governor Doug Bergam. Instead, he picks Vance, who's very much part of the wing of the Republican Party, who has bucked the GOP establishment. And, Ari, then again, you have like those speakers this week. I mean, take Teamster President Sean O'Brien. I mean, it's really, really hard to imagine a union boss speaking at any other republican convention.

O'Brien railed against big business and corporate lobbying groups. These were groups that are supposed to be part of the republican base. But clearly this is about reaching different voters for Republicans, working class voters. As we've reported, often Biden likes to describe himself as the most pro union president. He's even stood in line with autoworkers, union autoworkers.

But clearly, clearly Trump believes these union workers are in play of that. Will you talk specifically about what we heard from Trump's former rivals during the primary campaign, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. Yeah, thats interesting because as you were noting before, the differences between 2016 and 2020 and 2016, you know, Trump faced some dissent at his first convention. You know, but, you know, Ted Cruz, for example, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas would not endorse him. But theres really been none of that this year.

The first thing that Hailey said when she came on stage was that Trump invited her in the spirit of unity. She urged her own supporters, you know, to look past their differences and back Trump. There are some Americans who don't agree with Donald Trump 100% of the time. My message to them is simple. You don't have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him.

Now, DeSantis gave an even more aggressive speech. He was attacking Biden again. It's just another example of the control that Trump has. And it was interesting, actually to watch Trump's smiles as these two rivals kind of pledged their support for him because, as you remember, very, very ugly primary. So let's pivot to what Trump is likely to say in his speech because the themes of the convention so far this week have been consistent with his campaign.

Ari Shapiro
Focuses, crime, inflation, America first. Do you expect more of that in his address? Yeah, I do. I mean, we know that Trump is not going to deliver the same speech that he originally wrote for the convention. It is going to be less about attacking Biden and more about unity.

Vivek Ramaswamy
That's after the shooting on Saturday. Chris Lacivita, he's a senior Trump campaign advisor. He was talking with some Georgetown students here in Milwaukee a few days ago. And this is how he put it. I look at unity and it's obviously an opportunity to bring the country together.

Chris Lacivita
It's a very important thing. But let's not forget, we're in the middle of a campaign and you have to win that campaign. So a lot of polistics still to be played. So this speech might be about unity, but it's likely also going to be unity framed in an America first agenda. Accepting the nomination is the night of any convention.

Ari Shapiro
It is an opportunity for the candidate and the party. It's a huge national audience. How is the campaign thinking about this moment? Yeah, Lacivita talked some about that as well. You know, he brought up that their campaign speaks a lot about strength versus weakness, success versus failure, using those kind of visual words.

Chris Lacivita
Modern day politics is very visual. And so anytime you can actually visualize the issues and the contrasts, you start off with a different advantage. You know, Ari Trump is a businessman. He's a marketer, a messenger, and he likes a clear message. You know, it's a lot about repetition.

Vivek Ramaswamy
And these are the themes in his words, inflation under Biden versus less inflation under Trump. Cheap gas versus expensive gas, the border, of course, these are the issues of the RNC platform. Will you describe the Donald Trump that you have seen this week? Because since the shooting, some of the coverage has suggested that he seems different, more vulnerable. Does that track with what youve observed?

Watching Trump has been more very interesting. I mean, hes been kind of visibly subdued. You know, hes got that white bandage on his right ear. He sits in the vip section surrounded by friends and family. Hes calm, you know, sometimes even emotional, such as when Sarah Sanders and Laura Trump were telling stories about how he is as a grandfather.

People tell me that an experience like that on Saturday, you know, being so close to death can change a person. And sources tell me it has impacted him. But let's be really very clear. You know, Trump's not known for being vulnerable. And I said again, a key message of the campaign is strength versus weakness.

And his campaign insists those messages are not going to change.

Ari Shapiro
That was NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordonez. This episode was produced by Breonna Scott and Gurjeet Kaurda. It was edited by Courtney Dorning, Dana Farrington, Megan Pratt, and Padma Rama. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

It's consider this from NPR. I'm Ari Shapiro. Support for NPR and the following message come from Washington wise. Decisions made in Washington can affect your portfolio every day. But what policy changes should investors be watching?

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