After ascending the stage to the theme from the action film Air Force One, Trump said he “humbly and gratefully” accepted the Republican nomination to the presidency, then launched into a prepared teleprompter speech peppered with caustic asides about career politicians.
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“America is far less safe – and the world is far less stable – than when (US President Barack) Obama made the decision to put Hillary Clinton in charge of America’s foreign policy”. “This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction terrorism and weakness, but Hillary Clinton’s legacy doesn’t have to be America’s legacy”. “Death, destruction, terrorism and weakness”. “If he gives it, I will not accept it”, Trump said. He cobbled together the necessary majority of delegates to win the nomination, but had one of the smallest majorities in the history of the Republican Party.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz was booed by the crowd at the Republican National Convention on July 20.
Trump, whose unpredictable campaign has broken every rule of politics, will portray America as a broken nation that only he can fix.
“That pledge was not a blanket commitment that if you go and slander and attack Heidi, that I am going to nonetheless come like a servile puppy dog and say, ‘Thank you very much for maligning my wife and maligning my father, ‘” Cruz said.
“I can tell you when you stand on principles, sometimes you stand alone”, he added. As the crowd chanted “Lock her up!” in reference to Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, Trump waved off their cries and said, “Let’s defeat her in November”.
Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump introduced her father, describing him as a kind and compassionate man in an appeal to female voters.
Ivanka said her father has always fought for country and recognises talent.
High-tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel said he’s proud to be gay and proud to be a Republican – but most of all, proud to be an American. He promised a “simplified” tax system for the middle class and businesses, fewer regulations and renegotiation of trade deals that he says have put working class Americans at a disadvantage.
Clinton also slammed Trump’s proclamation, “I’m with you”, writing, “Not included: women, African Americans, LGBT people, Muslims, Latinos, immigrants”. It showcased that the Republican nominee holds views on the world that sound straight out of the Russian leader’s mouth and is reluctant to honor US commitments to nations Putin regularly threatens. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told CNN that he “totally” disagrees with Trump’s suggestion that US support could be conditional. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Trump “is essentially telling Russians/other bad actors” that the United States “is not fully committed to supporting North Atlantic Treaty Organisation alliance”. He was scripted, self-contained and made no mention of Ted Cruz. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine has emerged as her top choice.
The announcement of Clinton’s pick could come as early as Friday in Florida, a crucial general election battleground state.
Whether or not you agree that Trump is the best representative of the values of the Republican Party, Republican voters voted for Trump to be their representative in contest after contest.
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Jalonick reported from Washington.
