Justice at Republican National Convention: Trump ‘an incredible man’

Gov. Jim Justice, and Babydog, spoke on night 2 of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The speech was livestreamed on the RNC's YouTube channel as seen on this laptop. (Lori Kersey | West Virginia Watch)

Appearing at the Republican National Convention Tuesday night, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice spoke of his friendship with former President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and said the United States would “become unhinged” if he is not reelected in November.

“I want to talk to you tonight about my relationship with President Trump,” Justice said. “I want to talk to you tonight about an incredible man. I want to tell you the truth about him and his family. He’s tough. He’s super smart. He’s a business guy. But maybe there’s something that you’ve missed, and that is he genuinely cares. He cares about all of us. Every last one of us. And he loves this nation beyond good sense.”

More than 50,000 people were expected at the convention, where delegates on Monday formally nominated Trump to lead the Republican ticket against President Joe Biden in the election. On Monday, Trump announced his running mate in the election will be Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, author of the book “Hillbilly Elegy.” 

Tuesday was the second night of the four-day convention. The night’s theme, “Make America Safe Once Again,” included a number of speakers whose talks often repeated Republican talking points about the U.S./Mexico border, fentanyl and crime.

Justice, who is running for Sen. Joe Manchin’s seat in the U.S. Senate, appeared alongside his English bulldog, Babydog. 

“She makes us smile. She loves everybody,” Justice said. “And how could the message possibly be any more simpler than just that?”

Babydog, apparently speaking through Justice, predicted that Republicans would retain their majority in the House of Representatives, flip the Senate to Republican control, and elect Trump and Vance to the White House. 

During the seven-minute speech, Justice also retold a story about a hunting and fishing trip with Trump’s son, Eric Trump, during which the younger Trump changed a vehicle tire that had blown. 

“Donald Trump has taught his kids the very best,” Justice said. “He’s taught them absolutely to respect the military. He’s taught them to respect our first responders. He’s taught them absolutely to treat our working men and women with love and respect all across this land.”

Around 100 West Virginians — including 32 delegates and 29 alternates, were expected to travel to the convention. West Virginia first lady Cathy Justice and a number of Republican officials — including Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, State Auditor J.B. McCuskey and others  — were also expected to attend. 

Justice’s appearance at the Milwaukee event came a day after he addressed the state of West Virginia about the assassination attempt on Trump at a campaign rally in rural Pennsylvania. 

In his speech Monday, Justice called Trump a “really personal friend” and said he wanted to see an end to divisive political rhetoric. He said violence and hate, in his opinion, has “just amped up all over the place” under President Joe Biden’s term in the executive office. “From the standpoint of our politicians, we’ve got to amp down the rhetoric,” he said. 

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