Trump Makes Emotional Entrance At RNC, Honors Fallen Firefighter Who Died At Rally
President Donald Trump made an emotional entrance to the Republican National Convention on Thursday.
After a speech from UFC President Dana White and a performance from Kid Rock, the event once again took on a more somber tone as Trump was introduced by Lee Greenwood and a live rendition of his signature entrance song, “God Bless The USA.”
As Greenwood started performing, the stage design lifted up to reveal the former president already standing on stage. Sporting a white bandage on his ear, the former president paced the stage for a number of minutes before taking the podium in front of a White House backdrop.
Also on stage was the fire gear of retired firefighter Corey Comperatore, a father of two who was killed when a gunman opened fire at the rally. Comperatore died while shielding his family from gunfire.
Thursday night’s featured RNC address marked the first time former President Trump has delivered a public speech since he was nearly killed in an assassination attempt during a rally in western Pennsylvania on July 13. The former president narrowly avoided being killed when he turned his head at the last second to take a look at a chart, causing the bullet to graze his ear.
He was released from the hospital just hours later and opted to continue with the Republican National Convention without delay.
On Monday, the former president made an emotional entrance to the convention in what was his first public appearance since the attempt on his life. Trump took on a more somber look as opposed to his generally energetic self as he entered the arena to cheers and chants of “we love Trump” and “fight, fight, fight” from the crowd.
He then made an emotional walk to his seats to a live rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA,” frequently pausing to pump his fist and acknowledge the crowd.
Trump made his appearance on Thursday not long after former First Lady Melania Trump received a standing ovation from the crowd during her own entrance.
“I am thinking of you, now, my fellow Americans,” the former first lady wrote in a press release after her husband was shot.
“We have always been a unique union. America, the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, but our courage and common sense must ascend and bring us back together as one. When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change,” the statement continued. “I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband. To the families of the innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I humbly offer my sincerest sympathy. Your need to summon your inner strength for such a terrible reason saddens me.”
