Live blogging night 4 of the GOP convention

It’s Trump’s turn tonight. Check out our coverage of night 1, night 2, and night 3.

*****

U. S. Senator Steve Daines of Montana. He is the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Says that this morning on his way to breakfast he thanked God for his wife, kids, and grandchildren and then thanked God that in six months Joe Biden will no longer the president. Thanks God for protecting Trump so they could have a convention in Milwaukee rather than a memorial service. He doesn’t just want a Republican Senate, he wants an “American First” Senate. He says that Democratic senators in swing states think they are “moderates,” but they are really “radicals.” And why are they “radicals?” Because they voted to impeach Donald Trump, want to stop drilling, and want to “take away your Second Amendment rights.” (Note: I am unaware of any U.S. senator who wants to do away with the Second Amendment). Says that in Montana “we know the difference between a bull and cow.”

Richard Hudson, congressman from North Carolina. He recognizes his “smoking hot wife” Renee (former assistant to Kellyanne Conway during the Trump administration) and “God above who redeemed this sinner and on Saturday saved president Trump’s life.” He mentions “Fort Bragg.” He apparently refuses to call it by its new name, “Fort Liberty.”

*****

Dianne Hendricks is up. She is a 77-year-old billionaire businesswoman from Wisconsin and runs the largest roofing distribution company in the country. She says she has “been recognized” as the most successful “self-made woman in American history.” I think she is talking about this Forbes study.

*****

Diane Evans, member of the “Trumpettes,” takes the stage. Says she has never used a teleprompter before, but “if Joe Biden can” use a teleprompter, she can use one. Said when she started working for the Trump campaign she “did whatever was needed,” including taking out the garbage. Now she is “taking out the garbage at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”

*****

Some are calling it World Wrestling Entertainment night at the convention. Linda McMahon, retired professional wrestling executive, is up. She is also the chair of the American First Policy Institute. No sign of her husband Vince.

McMahon talks about Trump’s starring role in many WWE events.

We finally get a reference to “tax cuts” in this populist convention. She claims they helped small businesses.

*****

Former Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gets a turn. Under Trump, he says, “there were no new American wars.” Says under Trump the southern border was “closed.” (This is not true). “And we never lost our Secretary of Defense for two weeks” under Trump.

Once again, Pompeo paints immigrants as murders and rapists and drug dealers. He paints with such a broad brush because this is the kind of brush Trump wants him to use. Have some asylum -seekers and refugees committed crime? Yes. Are all of them criminals? No. In fact, most of them will not.

Mocks Biden for not being capable of “taking that 3am phone call.” Adds, “he won’t take a phone call after 4:00pm.

Says that Biden is “ashamed of our nation.” Again, this is not true. But hey, it gets the MAGA crowd riled-up.

*****

Lorenzo Sewall is up. The GOP is calling him an “’everyday American’” and pastor.” He is the pastor of 180 Church in Detroit. Trump spoke at this church last month. Sewall says he was “mentored by murderers” in the street, but God changed his life. Says a lot of people were upset when he agreed to let Trump speak at his church, but Sewall responded with “he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Well, at least we have an evangelical pastor admitting Trump is a sinner. I guess that’s a start.

Now Sewall is connecting the prayers said for Trump during his visit to 180 Church to his life being miraculously saved by God in Butler, Pennsylvania. A Black pastor wants to “Make America Great Again.” Now he is preaching God’s “providence” and God’s sovereignty. He goes straight to the Ephesians 6:11 theological explanation for Trump’s assassination: “You cannot deny God’s hand of protection on Donald Trump, could it be that Jesus Christ preserved him for such a time as this? Could it be that when we prayed for him…in Detroit…God protected Donald Trump? If you believe that, put your hands together and give God glory.”

*****

Sewall’s sermon is followed-up with the Trump dancing to “YMCA” by the Village People video that we’ve seen on the first three nights of the convention. You can’t make this stuff up. And then Trump appears in the arena to AC-DC “Back in Black.” He walks up to the box and the special white leather chairs. He still has the bandage on his ear.

*****

The next speaker is John Nieporte, a golf pro at Trump International Golf Club. It seems like he is basically there to praise Trump’s golf game. Trump could have played more golf, Nieporte says, but he wants to work for the American people.

*****

CNN commentators are talking about Trump’s speech later tonight. This is the first time he is giving a major political speech with a big lead in the polls. John King of CNN says that with third party candidates in the mix, all Trump needs is 47% in a few swing states to win the presidency. He has to go into the speech with the belief that the election is his to lose.

*****

Now the RNC is running a video of Trump saying that the Democrats and “crooked Joe Biden” will try to steal the 2024 election. He urges everyone to vote just in case this happens.

*****

Trump lawyer Alina Habba is up. Says she is a “devout Catholic, a first generation Arab-American woman, and a feisty Jersey girl.” Trump inspired her “to be the woman she is today.” She breaks down emotionally when she calls Trump “her friend.” Habba is one of many speakers at this convention–Kai Trump, Lara Trump, and Sarah Sanders come immediately to mind–who are trying to humanize Trump.

“The only crime president Trump has ever committed is loving America.”

Talks about Trump’s love for the Sam and Dave tune, “Hold On I’m Coming.” After Habba finishes her speech, Sixpence plays the Stax classic.

NOTE: There are not as many speeches tonight as in previous nights of the convention. Each speaker seems to get longer speaking slots and the time between speakers is longer. Plenty more time to raise money and sell t-shirts.

*****

Next up is Liz Cheney. (Just kidding. I wanted to see who is paying attention.)

*****

And here is Tucker Carlson. See what Carlson said early in the week at the Heritage Foundation’s “Policy Fest” here. Carlson says, “I feel like I know half the people in the world” and gives a shout-out to Peter Navarro. Says, “I have never been at a convention with better vibes.” Again mentions the fact that Navarro is out of prison.

Carlson says that after what happened in Butler last Saturday, “everything is different.” Carlson believes it was divine intervention that saved Trump. When Trump raised his hand, Carlson says, he became “a leader of a nation.” He says it is “theoretically possible to make a dead person president.” (Crowd cheers). A “leader is the bravest man” and “this is a law of nature.” Carlson said he called Trump the night of the shooting and he “didn’t say a single word about himself.” Says Trump is the “most responsible leader I have ever seen.” He adds: “A leader’s duty is to his people, to his country, and none other. And another word for this is ‘democracy.'” Says Trump is here to do what “people actually want.” Interesting. The people wanted Hillary in 2016 and Biden in 2020. Trump won in 2016 because of the undemocratic Electoral College.

Carlson is painting Trump out as a man of “love.” He does not think it is “human love.” Concludes by saying “God is among us right now.”

*****

What should we think about all of these people praising Trump for being a normal human being? Should we really be impressed by the fact that Trump loves his grandkids, builds buildings, and encourages women? This is what normal, good people and citizens do. Is the bar that low for this man?

*****

Video plays with Trump saying that “this is the final battle.” Says it is time to eliminate the “deep state.” Ominous, war-like music plays in the background. You’ve gotta love Trump’s “national unity” theme for this convention. 🙂

*****

Annette Albright is a former school board candidate from Charlotte, North Carolina. She is next up. Says that “public schools” are a part of the problem” because schools are more like “prisons than places of learning.” Says she witnessed a riot in a school and she herself was “violently assaulted” by a group of students in a public high school. Blames her assault on an Obama policy that kept criminals in public schools. Democrats care more about “appeasing the teacher’s unions than they do our kids.” No reference to the pro-union message delivered on Monday night by Teamster president Sean O’Brien. (Apparently teachers do not qualify as “workers.”) For Albright, only the GOP can make public schools safe. Not sure how this squares with the GOP defense of vouchers. Does the Trump administration really want to improve public schools?

*****

A multiple song set from Sixpence. I think they’ve covered the Romantics’ “What I Like About You” every night this week. Now they are playing more Sam and Dave. This time it’s “Soul Man.”

*****

More pro wrestling. Hulk Hogan is up. He recently had an evangelical conversion experience. He comes out wearing a red bandana with sun glasses. He is in full character, doing his patented hand to the ear move. Compares the “tag team” of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance to the “tag team” of Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage.

Now he steps out of character. Says his real name is Terry Bollea. But he still sounds like he is in character. The only change is that he ripped-off his sports jacket and Hulkamania shirt to reveal a red “Trump-Vance 2024” shirt.

*****:

Franklin Graham takes the stage. I can’t believe he has to follow Hulk Hogan. Who made-up this schedule? Graham was hesitant in his support of Trump during the GOP primary season, but now he appears to be all in. Makes a joke about having to follow “The Hulk.”

Graham says he can’t explain why God would allow one life to spared and one life to be taken. Now he goes straight into a Billy Graham’s style gospel presentation. Quotes John 3:16.

Franklin Graham says Trump is a “man of his word.” He delivered on conservative federal justices. He delivered on “religious liberty.” He brought home Andrew Brunson.

Now he prays for Trump. Trump and Vance both have their eyes closed in the box. Graham says “our nation is in trouble” and only God can fix it. He prays for wisdom for Trump and asks God to protect him from his enemies. Prays for all leaders, regardless of party. (But not Biden specifically). Graham is known for making political statements, but he rarely prays in a political fashion. Vance does the sign of the cross at the end of the prayer.

*****

It’s Eric Trump’s turn. His kids join Lara in the box. Eric’s daughter sits on Donald Trump’s lap.

Eric Trump repeats a common mantra heard this week: Trump did not need to run for president because he was already rich and successful, but he did it out of selflessness and patriotism. Trump ran for president “not out of personal ambition” but out of a love for his country.”

J.D. Vance has changed his tie since this morning’s prayer breakfast.

Eric Trump says that his father saved New York City and “turned the streets into gold.”

Eric says that his father not only saved America, but he “created a movement.” Rails against Biden for renaming military bases that were originally named after Confederate generals. He says the assassin last weekend almost killed “the greatest hope for our future.” Says his father is not a “threat to Democracy.” He is rather a threat to those who want to restore our republic.” (Did you see what he did there?)

Now Eric repeats the mantra about how the Democrats are after “all of us” and Donald Trump is just “standing in the way.”

The camera every now and then turns to J.D. Vance and Usha Vance. I am intrigued by Usha Vance. She claps, but does not seem to smile very much. I thought she did a great job introducing her husband last night. It made me wonder just how much she is on board with all of this. I’ll need to do more research on this front.

Eric Trump leaves the stage after a grievance-filled speech. Sixpence plays a rendition of James Brown’s “Living in America.”

Up in the speaker’s box, J.D and Usha Vance are chatting with Hulk Hogan. I’d love to hear that conversation.

*****

Melania Trump is coming out. Waves and walks up the speaker’s box. J.D. Vance greets her with a few words. Does anyone know this song?

CNN is reporting that the GOP “really tried” to get Melania to speak tonight. She refused.

*****

Kid Rock comes out. Tells everyone to raise a fist. He starts rapping. Sounds like this is a Trump-specific rap. But what do I know? I think I heard something about Trump being an “American bad ass.” 🙂

*****

The speaking spot before Trump takes stage goes to the CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Dana White takes the stage to introduce Donald Trump. He says that “no one,” not even the Trump campaign, tells him what to say. He adds: “I am in the tough guy business.” Trump, he claims, is the toughest guy he has ever met. White says, “Trump is literally putting himself on the line for something bigger than himself.” The “American Dream” is at stake in the election,” White says, “I’m not telling you what to think, I’m telling you what I know.”

*****

And here we go. There are reports that Trump wrote a lot of the speech. I will say this: if Stephen Miller had anything to do with this speech you can throw the so-called “national unity” message out the window, if it has not already been thrown out the window by previous speakers at this convention. I’m not sure Miller is capable of writing a unifying speech.

Lee Greenwood is back to sing “God Bless the USA.” Sixpence backs him up. Trump appears. White flashing lights on the stage are illuminating a White House backdrop. The crowd is chanting “USA, USA, USA.”

Trump says he comes with a message of “confidence, strength, and hope.” Says in four months the “four greatest years in American history” will begin. Says he wants to be president for “all of America,” not all of America. Frankly, I will be surprised if he is able to get 50% of the popular vote in November.

Now he is talking about the assassination attempt. Says he will tell what happened only once, because it is “too painful to tell.” (Actually, this is already the second time he has told the story). He now proceeds to a blow-by-blow account of the assassination attempt. Behind him are the pictures of the bullet whizzing by his head. When that happened, Trump says he said to himself, “Wow what was that? It could only be a bullet…I know we were under attack.” He praises the Secret Service: “These are great people.” Trump says he felt very safe in the moment of the shooting because he “felt God at my side.” Now we see pictures of him on the ground behind the lectern. He says it was “unusual” that people did not flee after Trump went down. He claims that they did not flee because they saw Trump was in “very serious trouble.” They “thought I was dead” and “you could see their love all over their faces.” Trump said he felt “serene.”

Trump says, “I’m not supposed to be here tonight, I’m not supposed to be here.” The crowd chants “yes you are.” Trump is speaking quietly and soberly: “I stand in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God.” He says that “many are saying” it was a “providential moment,” adding, “it probably was.” Said he raised his right arm and said “fight, fight, fight” to let the people know he was okay. Now the screens behind him show the iconic photo of him raising his fist. “For the rest of my life I will be grateful for the love shown” by the patriots in Pennsylvania. He acknowledges the death of Corey Contempore and the other men shot. He walks over to Contempore’s jacket and helmet and kisses it. Pulls out a $1 million check someone gave him to support the family of the victims. He asks to observe a moment of silence for Contempore.

Trump quotes Jesus in John 15:13. Says our country was built on people laying down their lives for their friends. Actually, I am not aware of any founding father quoting this verse. I am guessing that they knew that this verse applied to Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, not the patriot’s sacrifice for political independence.

He says our “vision is righteous and cause is pure, we will not break, we will not bend, we will not back down.” Says he will never stop fighting for our “magnificent country.”

Trump said we are a country divided. He blames the Democrats for the divisiveness. He says the Democrats are destroying democracy and he, Donald Trump, is saving democracy. He starts-in with the “witch hunt” language. I think Trump really does believe that he has done NOTHING to divide the country. He really believes that he is innocent of all the felony indictments and convictions.

I think this is the first convention in U.S. history where a party’s nominee for president spent five minutes talking about the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship, a rapper (Kid Rock), and a professional wrestler.

I am not sure if Trump is still on the teleprompter at this point.

Now he moves on to acknowledge J.D. Vance. Says that Vance has joined the greatest movement in U.S. history–MAGA.

Trump says he is trying to “buy” Wisconsin votes with 250,000 new jobs.

So far no mention of Joe Biden. Trump complains that he never got credit for the economy because of COVID-19.

Trump says that we currently have “incompetent leadership. Says we are a “nation in decline” under the current administration. Talks about the “massive invasion” on the southern border spreading crime all over our land. The planet is on the verge of “World War III.” Says the current administration is made up of “very fierce people.” They cheat on elections. He says we will never let the “election fraud” happen again.

Again, it sounds like Trump’s post-assassination attempt “change of heart” simply means that he will continue his old ways, but just talk more solemnly. Apparently the assassination attempt made him very low energy.

Finally mentions Biden’s name. He says if you add up the 10 worst presidents in U.S. history they would still not do the damage to the country that Biden has done. (Do those ten presidents include Trump?)

Says the “illegal immigrants” are taking jobs away from the “Black population” and the “Hispanic population.”

Now this is starting to sound like the “American carnage” speech. Are we going to fall for this again?

Trump calls Biden’s infrastructure plan the “Green New Scam.”

OK–for the first time in my adult life, I may go to bed before a presidential candidate finishes a speech at a convention.

In the end, I think this speech is really hurting Trump. He is replaying all the old hits. The assassination attempt has not changed his talking points in any real way. The more he speaks, the more the assassination fades to the back of people’s minds and they start to realize why they don’t want to vote for this guy.

Trump is now completely off the teleprompter. Compares immigrants to Hannibal Lecter. He’s done this before.

Trump references “Operation Wetback” (without using the phrase). Says his deportation program will be larger than Eisenhower’s operation. He wants to put Tom Homan in charge. On Monday, Homan told The Heritage Foundation gathering that “if you are in this country illegally, you better look over your shoulder” after Trump gets back into office. He added, “I’m hated by most people in this country and I don’t give a shit.”

Is this the longest presidential acceptance speech ever delivered?

Again, the longer Trump rambles on, the more I see hope for the Democratic Party in November. I imagine that Biden will step aside and a new candidate will emerge. The Democrats are salivating right now. All they need is the right candidate.

Trump mentions Franklin Graham. Graham told Trump not “to use any foul language.” Trump says his father took him to see Billy Graham at Yankee Stadium. (This must have been the 1957 crusade. Graham did one rally at Yankee Stadium). He says, “My father loved Billy Graham, but I love Franklin Graham.”

Says that Saturday’s assassination attempt taught him that every minute we have on this earth is a “gift from God.” He says the shooter wanted to “stop our movement.” Of course we don’t know what motivated the shooter. Maybe Trump got a providential word about his motive.

Trump concludes that “all disagreements need to be put aside” so we can be a great nation again. One wonders if he just listened to his own speech.

And now we get Sixpence playing Sam and Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Coming.” Melania comes out and says “good job.” The family comes out. Balloons fall. Vance has not joined him yet on stage. Now an opera singer is performing. I don’t recognize the song. Now he is singing “America, the Beautiful.”

This was a long, rambling, and undisciplined speech. One hour and thirty-two minutes. The longest in U.S. history.

Chris Wallace on CNN: “We have a presidential campaign again.” Trump could not control himself. He had an appeal to unity at the beginning and the end, but played all the old divisive hits in between.

David Axelrod on CNN: “This is the first good thing that has happened to Democrats in the last three weeks.”

CNN’s John King: “There is not one line in [Trump’s speech] that will get him new voters.”

CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale says “it was a remarkably dishonest acceptance speech.” He counted 22 false claims in the speech.

A couple other comments that caught my attention:

Trump can be defeated this fall.

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) July 19, 2024

If he stopped at the 25 minute mark, it would have gone down as a brilliant convention speech and proof that he was a changed man after the assassination attempt. But he’s now just proving he hasn’t changed.

— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) July 19, 2024

Thanks for following along this week. If you want to help us continue to do this kind of work please subscribe to Current by clicking the red MEMBERSHIP button above.