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More than halfway through the Republican National Convention, the mood is calm, even spiritual. I spoke with my colleague Mark Leibovich, who is attending the convention in Milwaukee, about how the assassination attempt on Donald Trump has bolstered confidence within his party.
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A clear faith
Laura Kelly: How did the assassination attempt affect the mood at the Republican National Committee?
Mark Leibovich: People are undoubtedly shaken, but in the days since the shooting, there has been a sense of divine intervention, as if Trump had been touched by God, which seems to have stirred an almost spiritual loyalty to Trump.
I felt even more confident when I interviewed many of the senators, representatives and representatives earlier this week. They have many reasons to be confident, given the political realities on the ground. But the shooting added a new dimension to the collective trust people have in Trump. This is clearly Trump’s party, and there are no signs of resistance. Most people are here for the coronation.
On Monday, I heard a guy say he went to a drug store and bought a bunch of gauze pads, like the ones Trump was holding to his ear Monday night, and that he was going to put some kind of logo on them and sell them or give them away. By yesterday, I had seen people putting gauze pads on. Most were plain, but I saw some with words or logos on them. The promotion is starting.
roller: Is this a different type of Republican National Convention than you expected before last Saturday?
mark: This week has been lively yet calm so far. There is usually more of a siege mentality at the Republican National Convention. There is a huge victim mentality in this Republican Party. We are fighting in difficult conditions and everyone is against us.But now the feeling is not so strong.
I was at Trump’s first convention in Cleveland in 2016, and many of the delegates I spoke to this week were there, and at that point Trump hadn’t quelled any of the opposition he faced. Ted Cruz gave a very defiant speech and was basically booed from start to finish by Trump supporters in the audience.
The contrast with this week is stark. Now we are seeing an almost unthinkable level of extreme compliance. People have embraced J.D. Vance with gusto, a clear extension of the trust people seem to have in Trump.
roller: How did the participants react? Joe Biden?
mark: More head shaking than anger, almost pity. Biden is part of the good fortune Republicans are feeling right now. They don’t seem to mind the usual name-calling. It’s more quiet name-calling, and at this point it feels like they’re taking aim at a soft target.
I don’t mean to downplay the disdain that people here have for the other side and for Biden and what a loss would look like or feel like. Who knows how the Republican Party would react if there was a surprise on election night, but that doesn’t seem to be the prevailing mood, at least for now. And maybe that has something to do with the shootings.
roller: What are you seeing from Trump himself?
mark: There have also been reports that President Trump is considering changing the tone of the event to one that encourages unity and reconciliation rather than the usual combative tone. Whether that will last remains to be seen.
When Trump came out last night, he looked a little bit moved. He doesn’t normally look moved. It seemed like a genuine look. HumbleBut his expression seemed to quieten. His whole demeanor seemed to quieten. He still seemed a little shocked by what had happened on Saturday. That would be a normal reaction.
Related:
Today’s News
- Rep. Adam Schiff has called on Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race, becoming the most prominent Democrat to do so so far.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced he will create a bipartisan special committee to investigate Saturday’s assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
- President Trump’s newly announced running mate, J.D. Vance, is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention tonight.
Dispatch
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Night Reading
Siegfried and Roy’s Improbable Success and Cruel Fall
Chris Jones and Michael J. Mooney
The last remnant of a lost empire lives behind the Mirage in Las Vegas, by the pool. On a good day, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden attracts more than 1,000 visitors. The $25 adult admission fee is justified mainly by the palm shade and serenity compared with the frenzy outside the walls, and the long summer months, when temperatures reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit, can get a little dreary. On a recent visit, just a few families were strolling around, admiring the five sleeping animals on display: three tigers, a lion and a leopard. The Secret Garden is ostensibly run as an educational facility. “Look, a lion,” one young father said to his son, pointing at a tiger.
Read the full article.
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Culture Break
clock. Simone Biles Risingis a four-part Netflix documentary series about gymnasts that explores the limits of “work ethic.”
meal. Who wants to sit at a communal table? A lot more Americans than you might think do.
Play the daily crossword.
P.S.
Far away from Milwaukee, preparations are underway for the Olympics. I look forward to the Summer Olympics (my once every four years foray into niche sports fandom) and thought my colleague Alan Taylor’s photo of the 1924 Olympics in Paris was lovely. Some of the uniform choices were surprising, but the hats on the spectators and the overall energy of the photo really spoke to me.
– roller
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