Trump accepts third GOP nomination

After shooting, "I'm not supposed to be here tonight"

Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for July 19, 2024:

• Some familiar grievances from Trump.

• Pressure ramps up on Biden to drop out.

• More calls for Secret Service chief to resign.

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GOP CONVENTION. Five days after a failed assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump accepted his party's nomination for the White House, vowing to Republican delegates that he will turn around economic troubles faced by some Americans. "I am more determined than ever, and so are you," Trump said, taking aim at President Biden. "The damage that he's done is unthinkable," Trump argued.

• ATTACK. In a lengthy 92-minute speech - the longest ever for a convention - Trump began by describing how he was injured Saturday at his rally in Pennsylvania, telling a hushed audience about the moment he realized he was under attack. "I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard on my right ear," Trump said, publicly detailing his injuries for the first time.

• MOMENT. "The assassin's bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life," Trump declared. "I'm not supposed to be here tonight," he added plaintively, as delegates chanted, 'Yes you are!' "I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God," Trump said.

• REMARKS. The first part of Trump's speech was powerful. The crowd was hushed as he described last week’s shooting. But after that, it was the same old Trump, giving an extended mixture of policy, personal stories, introductions, conservative dog whistles, petty grievances, and ad libbing. It was basically his stump speech.

CHARGES. Trump used part of his remarks to criticize the various criminal prosecutions against him, demanding the termination of those investigations. "The Democrat Party should immediately stop weaponizing the justice system," Trump said, as he very specifically objected to being labeled 'an enemy of democracy.'

• POLICY. In terms of plans for a second term in office, Trump vowed to cut taxes again. He said he would block government programs on electric vehicles. Trump said he would immediately bring back tougher measures at the border, and would also allow more oil and gas drilling in the U.S. "We are indeed a nation in decline," Trump said, blaming 'totally incompetent leadership.'

• HIGHLIGHTS. Trump went off on all sorts of tangents during his speech.

  • He called for the head of the UAW to be fired.

  • Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 'misses me.'

  • Trump labeled the 2020 election 'ridiculous.'

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THE HULK. For most people who watched the final night of this GOP convention, there will be one moment they might remember - and that was the political debut of former wrestling star Hulk Hogan. In a trademark move, Hogan stood before delegates and tore off his shirt to reveal a ‘TRUMP-VANCE’ tank top t-shirt.

WWE. Along with Hogan, delegates heard from former WWE executive Linda McMahon, who said Trump has the ‘heart of a lion.’ But maybe the biggest applause was reserved for talk show host Tucker Carlson. In other words, it was not a normal final night of a political convention - as Trump clearly wanted a TV ‘show’ to interest viewers (you can’t argue with that).

• WORKING MAN. To me, the Hulk Hogan/WWE kind of Republican Party is a perfect fit for Trump personally - and it’s a perfect fit if the Trump GOP wants to try to realign itself into the party of Joe Six Pack. The Staten Island/Union hall/tough guy vibe is obviously what Trump likes.

• POLICY. But I would only have one warning about that - it doesn’t really fit snugly with current GOP policy choices, which often feature tax cuts for the wealthy, treating Wall Street with kid gloves, and not supporting unions. It’s something to watch as this campaign goes forward.

FLOOR. Down on the convention floor, delegates were excitedly waving signs on Thursday night which said, “FIRE JOE BIDEN,” “BRING BACK COMMON SENSE,” and “AMERICA FIRST.”

• LONE STAR. In their final gatherings on Thursday, GOP delegates heard a combination of warnings and confidence about November. "It's easy to be complacent," Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told his state's delegation meeting, admitting that he's in a difficult reelection race. "Texas is a battlefield."

• VOTE. The message was the same at a number of GOP meetings yesterday, as various officials urged their fellow Republicans to get out to vote. "The call on all of us is to go do the work," Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia said Thursday.

• EAR WEAR. On the final night of the convention, there was no shortage of delegates wearing various bandages and ear apparel, paying homage to Donald Trump's still undetermined injuries from last Saturday’s shooting attack at his Pennsylvania rally. This was one of many.

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DEMS IN DISARRAY. Normally at a political convention, reporters aren’t paying much attention to the other party. But these are not normal times. Hanging over the final day of the Republican convention was the growing political pressure on President Biden to quit the 2024 race - three weeks after his bad debate performance in Atlanta.

• PRESSURE. The leaks from Democrats further accelerated again yesterday, once more ratcheting up pressure on the President, who was out of public view, dealing with COVID at his home in Delaware.

• INTERVIEW. Even though he was at home, Biden still managed an untimely verbal gaffe. In a recorded interview with BET News, the President seemed unable to remember the name of his Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin. Biden simply referred to him as the ‘Black man.’

TESTER. Last night, more Democrats were calling on the President to quit the race. "I believe President Biden should not seek reelection to another term," said Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who has his own difficult race this year. Tester is just the second Senate Democrat to make such a public call.

• HOUSE. Meanwhile, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) sent Biden a letter, comparing the President to an ace pitcher whose arm is tired - all but asking Biden to remove himself from the game. "Your situation is tricky because you are both our star pitcher and our Manager," Raskin wrote.

• JULY 4. Back on Independence Day, I saw Raskin at a neighborhood July 4 gathering. He was asked about V.P. Harris replacing Biden on the ticket. "I think that's where everything is headed," Raskin said softly.

SWITCH OR FIGHT. Is it 'the right decision' for Democrats to get Biden to step aside? No one knows that answer. We can have a lively argument on either side of that coin. But I do know what I've been watching since the debate - Biden’s subpar performance completely unnerved top Democrats in Congress.

• SQUAD. Many Democrats are not happy with these developments. "I can’t tell you all how shameful it feels to hear all these leaks," said Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). "It’s a lack of leadership and it’s making all Democrats look bad."

• FRONTLINE. Another House Democrat called for Biden to drop out yesterday, Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA). "President Biden has been an incredible President," Costa said. "But for the good of the country, I think it is time for the President to pass the torch to the next generation."

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WHAT IF. So, what if Democrats are able to convince President Biden that he should step aside? How would that impact the race from the GOP point of view? First of all, Republicans were downright skeptical that Democrats are going to get rid of Biden.

• BOOMER SOONER. "I don't think they can switch him out," Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) told me. "I think it's got to be Joe Biden. They've already went through the primary process. It's got to be Joe Biden, because if he's not fit to run for office, he's not fit to be there."

• RESIGN. As this Democratic Party story keeps developing, you could feel Republicans putting together one attack line - if Biden does quit the race. "If Joe Biden is unfit to run for reelection, he is unfit to continue as President," said Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT).

• SUNSHINE. "If he doesn't have the mental acuity to be the candidate, how can he be the President?" said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) of Biden, taking aim at Democrats. “They knew the condition this guy was in and they covered it up.”

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2020 ELECTION. Donald Trump couldn't help himself last night as he again accused Democrats of cheating him out of the 2020 election. Trump still has no evidence to back up that claim - and neither do some of his big name supporters, who were still pushing the Big Lie this week in Milwaukee. More in my column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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SECRET SERVICE. On my first trip to Media Row yesterday, I ran into Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, one of the four GOP Senators who had been chasing after the Secret Service Director at the Republican convention on Wednesday night. Cramer is an easy going, very even-tempered guy - but he was still fired up about what had happened the night before.

• CRAMER. "It was a little bit surreal," Cramer admitted, describing how Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle had basically given Senators 'the Heisman,' by refusing to answer any detailed questions about the Trump assassination attempt. "It was almost - in many respects - almost unbelievable," Cramer said.

• RESIGN. More Republicans in Congress called on Thursday for the Secret Service chief to resign in the aftermath of the Trump rally attack. "The Secret Service's mission is to protect and it failed," said Sen. Todd Young (R-IN).

• HEALTH. I do think we should note one other item that needs more light shed upon it. It has been six days since Donald Trump was injured. Not one official report has been released on his injuries, his treatment, or what exactly happened that day. That is not acceptable.

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BEHIND THE SCENES. Just as we all started to figure out where to go in Milwaukee and how to get our jobs done, this GOP convention is now over. I did much of my work in the general press area, where any reporter could grab a seat, use the wi-fi, and plug in a power cord. This is what it looked like.

THINKING BACK. It was much the same set up in the Georgia World Congress Center at my first convention in Atlanta in 1988. Back then, we all chuckled at a radio guy who put his suit jacket over his head to record his stories, hoping to get a better sound. 36 years later, what did I see this week? Someone recording their audio track with a jacket pulled over their head. Some things don't change.

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RAP SHEET. A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Benjamin Cohen joined other rioters in breaching police lines several times outside the building. He then went into the Lower West Terrace tunnel to help rioters try to break through police lines. Cohen later climbed through a broken window to get into the Capitol.

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MUSE OF HISTORY.  July 19, 1917.  Sen. Henry Myers of Montana opened the day's session of the Senate with a call for prohibition, as the Congress heard demands for an amendment to the Constitution banning the sale and manufacture of alcohol.  Myers recalled a resolution passed by the Continental Congress which called for the 'immediate stop to the pernicious practice of distilling grain.'  "Liquor traffic stands repugnant to and destructive of life," Myers declared on the Senate floor.

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

The House is back for votes on Monday.

The Senate is back for votes on Tuesday.

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Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com

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