How the assassination attempt on Trump has changed the outlook of this week’s RNC
-
A supporter of Donald Trump prays at a prayer vigil held for former President Donald Trump in downtown Milwaukee ahead of the Republican National Convention.Grace Widyatmadja / NPR -
A poster board covered in well wishes for Donald Trump sits on an easle at the Prayer Vigil for America. The event was held at Zeidler Union Square in Milwaukee on Sunday.Nickolai Hammer / NPR -
People pray during a prayer vigil and voter registration event for former president Donald Trump in the downtown area before the start of the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 14, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Keren Carrion / NPR -
Cliff Saunders writes, "Praying for the best. God bless you" on a poster board set out for Donald Trump at the Prayer Vigil for America. Saunders said that it "Felt good to recharge your batteries," on attending the event at Zeidler Union Square in Milwaukee on Sunday. "We're just trying to get everybody out to vote. People have become too complacent.Nickolai Hammar / NPR -
Get well soon cards written by Donald Trump's supporters at a prayer vigil and voter registration event held for the former president Donald Trump in the downtown area before the start of the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 14, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Grace Widyatmadja / NPR -
Hilario Deleon, chair of the Milwaukee County GOP, writes "Get well soon," on a poster board setup for well wishes for Donald Trump at the Prayer Vigil for America. The event was held at Zeidler Union Square in Milwaukee on Sunday.Nickolai Hammar / NPR -
People attend a prayer vigil and voter registration event for former president Donald Trump in the downtown area before the start of the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 14, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Keren Carrion / NPR -
Well wishes written on a poster board setup for Donald Trump at the Prayer Vigil for America. The event was held at Zeidler Union Square in Milwaukee on Sunday.Nickolai Hammar / NPR
Ahead of this week’s RNC in Milwaukee, Republicans congregated for a vigil in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Transcript
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Typically, in the lead-up to a political party convention, there's a lot of excitement. Ahead of this week's Republican convention in Milwaukee, though, Republicans came together for a vigil in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. NPR political reporter Elena Moore talked to locals about how the violence of the weekend is shaping their outlook for this week's convention.
UNIDENTIFIED PASTOR: Lord, we pray that you would continue to watch over him. Give full healing to him. Help him to...
ELENA MOORE, BYLINE: A local pastor leads a group of around 100 supporters in prayer in downtown Milwaukee. Sam Krieg, a political activist in Wisconsin, is in the crowd.
SAM KRIEG: I think there needs to be a show of unification - that stuff like this should never happen again.
MOORE: He shares his prayer for the future.
KRIEG: People of both parties should be able to go to events and not fear their safety is in danger. So I'm praying so that we turn down the political rhetoric.
MOORE: Standing in the back is Chris Slinker. He's from nearby and is serving as a delegate at the convention. When he heard the news of the shooting, he was scared, but that feeling changed.
CHRIS SLINKER: It turned into anger, and it turned into the attitude of fight, fight, fight.
MOORE: Fight - the word Trump mouthed on Saturday after getting shot on stage. And while the vigil did focus on faith, there was still an activist message - get out and support Trump.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Chanting) Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight.
MOORE: And Wisconsin delegate Dixon Wolfe thinks the shooting will only boost that support.
DIXON WOLFE: Even the people who weren't very political in the first place, I saw them posting on social media that they'd made their decision on who they were voting for.
MOORE: At 23 - as one of the convention's youngest delegates - he feels Trump is the right candidate for his generation.
WOLFE: Young voters are really hurting right now. We want to have a future where we're able to raise families that are strong and that we're able to afford things.
UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: (Singing) Our flag was still there.
MOORE: As the vigil ended, the crowd broke out into song. Milwaukee area resident Jeff Noncent was moved to tears.
JEFF NONCENT: I became an American citizen under Donald Trump presidency.
MOORE: Noncent is an immigrant from Haiti who was naturalized in 2019.
NONCENT: Donald Trump is truly an American. I'm forever thankful for what he did.
MOORE: He voted in his first presidential election in 2020. And as he stands there holding back tears, there's no question of who has his vote this year.
Elena Moore, NPR News, Milwaukee. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad