Former President Donald Trump made a triumphant entrance at the Republican National Convention Monday night. The former president, who was wearing a large white bandage on his right ear, was greeted with chants of “USA!” and “Fight! Fight! Fight” as he made his first major public appearance since Saturday’s assassination attempt.
As Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the USA,” Trump made his way into the convention center and met his family, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Tucker Carlson, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), who was announced as Trump’s vice presidential nominee just hours prior to his arrival.
Before performing the song that is played at every Trump rally, Greenwood addressed the crowd at the Republican National Convention.
“Hello, RNC. Is there any doubt who’s going to be the next president of the United States? Prayer works. This nation [is] based on faith,” Greenwood said. “Prayer works, because he was sure as Donald Trump turned his head just slightly that the bullet missed him just enough to save his life to be the next president of the United States. We have believed for so long that God will make some changes in this country, and he’s about to make a change in the current administration and send them home.”
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The Daily Wire noted that Trump’s appearance, which was his first major public appearance since Saturday’s assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was just over 48 hours after a would-be assassin shot the former president in the ear, killed retired fire chief Corey Comperatore, and injured two other victims.
After singing the opening portion of “God Bless the USA,” Greenwood said, “We are here tonight with one purpose, and that is to elect Donald J. Trump as the next president of the United States. He is here tonight to show his courage, his defiance against somebody who tried to kill him. You will not take this man down. He has the courage and the strength, and he will be the next president of the United States.”
At the conclusion of “God Bless the USA,” Greenwood introduced Trump and saluted the former president as the crowd started chanting “USA! USA! USA!” The crowd also chanted “Fight! Fight! Fight!” in reference to the chant Trump gave after being shot on Saturday.
Trump’s entrance at the Republican National Convention was met with widespread celebration by conservative figures on social media.
“Lee Greenwood gives an incredible introduction to Donald Trump as he enters the RNC Convention,” media personality Benny Johnson tweeted alongside the video. “Grab your tissues.”
Journalist Greg Price also shared a video from Trump’s entrance, saying, “This is so awesome. Absolute boss.”
