Trump Attends Republican Convention with Bandaged Ear Following Assassination Attempt

Former U.S. President Donald Trump made a dramatic appearance at the Republican National Convention, sporting a bandage over his right ear just two days after surviving an attempted assassination.

Delegates erupted in cheers as Trump appeared onscreen backstage before emerging to the tune of “God Bless The USA.” Although he did not address the convention directly, his acceptance speech is scheduled for Thursday.

Earlier, jubilant delegates nominated Trump to lead their ticket for a third time, with Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate.

Trump announced his choice of Vance on his Truth Social platform while Milwaukee delegates voted for his nomination. He secured the necessary threshold with votes from his home state of Florida, announced by his son Eric.

“We must unite as a party, and we must unite as a nation,” said Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley, Trump’s hand-picked leader, as he opened the primetime convention session. “We must show the same strength and resilience as President Trump and lead this nation to a greater future.”

However, Whatley and other Republican leaders emphasized that their calls for unity did not extend to President Joe Biden and the Democrats. “Their policies are a clear and present danger to America, our institutions, our values, and our people,” said Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, welcoming the party to his battleground state, which Trump won in 2016 but lost to Biden four years later.