Can Donald Trump unite the country?
Yes, yes, he can, the former president asserted on the final night of the Republican National Convention (RNC), where unity was the theme.
“We either rise together or we fall apart. I’m running for president of all of America, not half of America.
The speech the night before contained very little discussion of policy. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) mentioned several Republican priorities in a sentence or less. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized Joe Biden for being weak on foreign policy. Tax increases and porous borders were mentioned sporadically.
The superficial policy discussions reflect changes in the 2024 Republican platform, which has significantly watered down many of the party’s traditional commitments when they are not explicitly contradicted. It barely mentions the right to bear arms, whereas it once fully supported the Second Amendment. It says abortion policy should be left to the states, and it has called for amending the Constitution to protect unborn children. The Republican platform once promised to reform Social Security and Medicare, which are facing bankruptcy, but the current platform promises “not to cut a penny” in benefits.
To Trump, this is a feature, not a bug. The new platform “is very short compared to the long, boring, meaningless agenda of the past,” he said from the podium.
Tucker Carlson hit the nail on the head when he said in his Thursday speech that he had “never been to a convention… with a better atmosphere.” Hulk Hogan then tore his shirt to reveal a Trump Vance vest and drove nails through the wood.
One thing the platform and Thursday night’s convention speakers agreed on was their tough stance on immigration.
“We have become a dumping ground for the rest of the world,” Trump said, accusing the Biden administration of lax border management and of South American countries emptying “prisons,” “mental hospitals” and “lunatic asylums” and bringing them to the United States.
Trump links immigration to everything: to rising deficits, saying immigrants need Social Security; election, saying Democrats wanted illegal immigrants to come in and vote blue; even narrowly escaped assassination. He said he turned his head in time to avoid a bullet aimed at his head when he saw a chart about rising illegal immigration.
Nor has Trump’s pledge of unity stopped him from launching repeated attacks on the current administration on crime, inflation, taxes and other issues.
“under this current administrative, us yes indeed A nation exist decline. us have one inflation crisis That yes make Life Harder, Affordable, ravage this income of Serving and low-income family and Shocking,” Trump said. 「us also have one Unlawful migrant crisis and it is take place correct Now as us sit here exist this beautiful arena. it is A Lots of Invasion exist our South boundary That have spread suffering crime, poor, disease and destroy.
Trump’s only praise for the Democrats was their ability to “cheat” in the election. He made sure to shout out to the media in the room, eliciting loud boos from the audience.
He denounced trade with Mexico and China (“they plunder our country”) and promised to bring manufacturing to the United States.
Trump did mention several outlandish policies during his lengthy speech, including his support for right to try, which allows terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs, and his new idea of making tips tax-free.
All in all, Trump’s lengthy speech delivered a typically Trumpian message: Things are bad now, and they will be better under his leadership. It remains to be seen whether that message will unite the country or whether his superficial policies will improve the country.
