Republican National Convention live updates: Donald Trump's 'painful' speech about shooting, thanks Melania as he vows to win and fix America
Donald Trump has vowed to fix America as he accepted the Republican party's nomination after he told of how he was shot at in his prime-time speech. Follow the updates.
In the longest address given by a candidate ever, Donald Trump has opened his speech with what he said was a "message of confidence, strength and hope" with his loyal family right behind him.
After formally accepting the Republican nomination for November's presidential election, Trump brought the helmet and jacket of Corey Comperatore, the volunteer firefighter chief who was shot dead.
He recalled how he was shot at, but survived with God by his side.
Trump said: "I am not supposed to be here tonight."
The crowd chanted back: "Yes you are, yes you are."
"I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God," the former president said.
Trump said a "growing spectre of conflict" was hanging over Taiwan, South Korea and Asia as a whole, and that the world was "teetering on the edge of World War III".
Trump talked up his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, saying that he managed to stop his missile launches.
Outlining his plans for the next four years, Trump promised he would end the "inflation crisis", start paying off debt while lowering taxes, close the US-Mexico border with a finished wall, and "drill, baby, drill" to shore up America's energy system.
He also vowed that he would "end every single international crisis" - including the war in Ukraine - without providing any details about his peace plan.
He reached out to American voters, asking and at one point, tried to "buy" their vote. "You've been told to lower your expectations and to accept less to your families, I am here tonight with the opposite message, your expectations are not big enough. It is time to start expecting and demanding the best leadership in the world, leadership that is bold, dynamic, relentless and fearless."
His wife Melania waved to the crowd as she walked to her seat in the VIP section where other family members were including Ivanka who also hasn't been seen since the assassination attempt.
Trump also praised his running mate JD Vance, calling him his "new friend fighting by my side".
"Enjoy the ride," he added.
Kid Rock called on fans to chant "fight fight" and "Trump Trump" after Hulk Hogan whipped the crowd into a frenzy with his appearance when he ripped his shirt.
Trump's son Eric told the Republican convention his father had shown "unwavering courage and determination" throughout his controversial political career.
At 81, US President Joe Biden has been facing growing calls from his own side to quit the race, and he suffered another blow yesterday when he was diagnosed with Covid-19.
SEE HIS SPEECH ABOVE AND SEE HOW IT UNFOLDED BELOW:
Updates
Trump's speech ends as family joins on stage
Rally victim's name spelt wrong in tribute
Earlier, Trump paid tribute to firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was shot and killed in the Trump assassination attempt – with a mock up of the man in his uniform.
But the name is spelled wrong on the uniform. It says Compertore. The ‘a ' is missing!
'We will win, win, win'
"We must rise above past differences. Any disagreements have to be put aside," Trump said.
"Tonight, I ask for your partnership, for your support, and I am humbling asking for your vote."
"Every day, I will strive to honour the trust you have placed in me, and I will never, ever let you down."
"Together, we will win, win, win."
"Nothing will sway us. Nothing will slow us. And no one will ever stop us."
'We are going to unite'
Trump told the crowd: "Your expectations are not big enough."
"We are Americans. Ambition is our heritage, greatness is our birthright," he said.
But he warned that the country's destiny would remain "out of reach" as long as people were still fighting each other.
"We are going to unite, we are going to come together," Trump said.
'My journey nearly ended'
"A few short days ago, my journey with you nearly ended," Trump said.
"We live in a world of miracles. None of us knows God's plan."
"But if the events of last Saturday make anything clear, it is that every single moment we have on earth is a gift from God."
"We have to make the most of every day for the people and for the country that we love."
Trump breaks promise
Trump broke his own vow of only mentioning Joe Biden once during his speech, diverting back to the President once again to criticise his efforts to find a cure for cancer, and claiming he would succeed in that medical mission.
It came as The New York Times reported that Democrats who wanted the President to drop out of the race feared he would dig in after Trump's speech, as it reprised some of the former president's most extreme claims.
'Very big price': Trump threatens Hamas
Trump threatened to retaliate against Hamas if Americans held hostages from the terrorist group's October 7 invasion of Israel were not freed.
"They better be back before I assume office or you will be paying a very big price," he said.
'Greatest hits from 2016': Biden camp reacts
Before Trump's speech finished, the Biden campaign said he was "just playing the greatest hits from 2016".
"He has not changed. He has not moderated," spokesman Ammar Moussa said.
"He has gotten worse — except now he talks about the ‘late, great, Hannibal Lecter'."
'I think he misses me': Trump on Kim Jong Un
Trump talked up his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, saying that he managed to stop his missile launches.
"It's nice to get along with someone who has a lot of nuclear weapons," he said.
"I get along with him … He'd like to see me back, I think he misses me."
Trump references Hannibal Lecter in speech on migrants
Again diverting off his prepared speech, in a rant about illegal immigration, Trump made his typical campaign rally reference to "the late, great Hannibal Lecter".
"He'd love to have you for dinner," he said of the serial killer from Silence of the Lambs, in an apparent threat to unleash him on migrants.
Trump has previously praised Lecter, calling him “a wonderful man.”
In a campaign speech in New Jersey earlier this year, Trump segued from an unsubstantiated claim about migrants coming from “insane asylums” to discussing the cannibal psychiatrist.
Actor Anthony Hopkins, who played Lecter, said in an interview with Deadline he was “shocked and appalled” by Trump's comments.
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