Blitz Bureau
DONALD TRUMP, who survived an assassination bid last week, was celebrated on July 16 at the Republican National Convention (RNC) by former rivals who just months ago levelled harsh critiques about him, a show of unity that contrasts with the divisions increasingly ripping through the Democratic Party.
Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador who was Trump’s final challenger in the GOP primary, directly addressed her supporters after taking the stage to a mix of cheers and boos, according to an AP report.
Simple message
“My message to them is simple: You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him,” Haley said. She was followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a one-time Trump ally turned primary rival who has worked to rebuild his relationship with the former president since dropping out of the primary.
“Donald Trump has been demonized. He’s been sued. He’s been prosecuted. And he nearly lost his life,” DeSantis told the crowd. “We cannot let him down. And we cannot let America down.”
Contrast with Democratic Party The displays of unity stood in stark contrast to the dynamic facing Democrats, many of whom are increasingly uncertain that President Joe Biden is the right choice to take on Trump in the November election.
The Haley and DeSantis appearances were particularly notable given the personal animosity that defined this year’s GOP contest. Haley had earlier painted Trump as chaotic and suggested the 78-year-old was too old to serve another term. Unlike DeSantis, she did not immediately endorse Trump after she dropped out.
