GOP convention buzzing on Day 1: Trump ‘took a bullet and got up ready to fight’

On the first day of the Republican National Convention, delegates were fired up about Donald Trump — even more than usual — but also angry at liberals as they gathered Monday to formally nominate the former president and applaud J.D. Vance as his vice presidential pick.

“I feel a shift from excited to super-excited,” said Annie Marszal, a Sacramento, Calif., gas station owner, of the prospect of another Trump term.

That feeling was everywhere, from the cavernous convention hall in downtown Milwaukee to the far-out, suburban hotels where delegates gathered for pre-convention breakfasts. Trump was formally nominated by the convention in the afternoon — less than 48 hours after a gunman fired at him, grazing his ear during a Pennsylvania rally — with each state methodically giving its enthusiastic support to the former president.

“They see a candidate who literally took a bullet, and got up ready to fight,” said Drew McKissick, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party.

Political conventions mirror the mood of a party like no other election year event. When people are wary of the candidate, or upset with part of the platform, the mood is tentative, even defeating. Not at this convention. Finding anyone to say anything skeptical about Trump was impossible.

The convention’s 16-page party platform is stoking virtually no vocal dissent, not even about its abortion plank, initially criticized by some conservatives because it didn’t mention strict federal limits on abortion. Instead, it mirrored Trump’s view that abortion policy is up to the states.

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Trump as hero

This was already Trump’s convention before Saturday’s attempted assassination, where Trump suffered a wound to his ear when a gunman took aim from a roof outside the convention grounds.

That elevated Trump to heroic status for some in Milwaukee.

“He came out looking like a warrior,” said Marszal.

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Tom Montgomery, a San Rafael campaign treasurer, summed it up this way: “It makes everybody more determined than ever to win.”

Add to that the Monday morning news that Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case against Trump in Florida.

“It’s incredible,” said A.J. Daoud, one of North Carolina’s delegates. “I think people are realizing that going after President Trump is doing nothing, but is looking to the average voter or person like, ‘This is looking kind of like a witch hunt.’”

It’s even led some who weren’t planning on attending to clear their schedules to make their way to Wisconsin. That includes Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina.

“We are more determined than ever to fight and win,” said Harrison Musselwhite, a Greenville, S.C., truck driver.

Liberal rhetoric

But there was also a different kind of fighting spirit. People were upset at liberals, who they say engaged in tough talk about hurting Trump — talk that may have encouraged Saturday’s shooter.

“Most of the hatred comes from the Democratic Party,” said Richard Hugues, an Upland, Calif., insurance broker.

Shawn Steel, California Republican National Committee member, named names from a lengthy list he compiled and brought to the reception.

He recalled how in 2017 Madonna said she thought about “blowing up the White House.” He cited rapper Snoop Dogg, who in 2017 released a music video showing a clown dressed as Trump being shot with a toy gun. (The rapper has since said has “nothing but love and respect” for Trump.)

The most cited comment has involved President Joe Biden. He reportedly told donors in a private conversation last week: “We’re done talking about the debate. It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.” Biden has forcefully condemned the attack on Trump this weekend.

“There’s so much evidence,” said Steel.

Daoud was asked if it was fair to put all the blame on Democrats. He said he spoke with his law enforcement connections in Washington, D.C. after the shooting and they were concerned Trump supporters might retaliate and cause Democrats to do the same.

“The truth of the matter is, I really think that we’ve gotten to a place — because I’ve seen when tragic events occur — people all of a sudden get realistic. So, you’re either in a fistfight, and it doesn’t end until someone gets hurt, or everybody steps back and says, ‘Wait a second, we’re on the wrong path. Let’s calm down and start talking about this like civilized folks.’”

Monday, though, was a day to celebrate.

“This last weekend gave us pause to reflect on how precious life is,” said Jason Simmons, chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. “And making sure that as we go forward as a country, we have the opportunity to reflect upon and find things that unite us all and to be able to focus on those things.”