Former President Donald Trump made his first appearance at the Republican National Convention on Monday evening, just two days after an assassination attempt.
Trump was joined by his running mate announced just hours earlier, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio. Trump’s entrance for the final hour was greeted with thunderous applause, emotion, and nearly brought the nation’s 45th president to tears.
The crowd begged for Trump to speak, though neither he nor Vance ultimately did on a night themed “Make America Wealthy Again” and full of speakers talking about the economy. The suspense of announcing Vance finally broke and became official Monday afternoon.
Multiple times, the former president was visibly emotional as he listened to speeches. He also had some smiles, especially when he was imitated just before the benediction. Chants of “USA” bathed him in the Fiserv Forum Arena in Milwaukee, Wis., home of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.