Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives for the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum, Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
"Let me begin this evening by expressing my gratitude to the American people for your outpouring of love and support following the assassination attempt at my rally on Saturday," Trump said. "As you already know, the assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life."
The former president and GOP presidential nominee said that "so many people have asked me what happened, and therefore, I’ll tell you what happened."
"You’ll never hear it from me a second time, because it’s too painful to tell," he said.
Trump recounted the shooting, saying he knew "we were under attack."
Trump praised the "very brave Secret Service agents who rushed to the stage and pounced on top of me for protection."
"There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way, I felt very safe, because I had God on my side," Trump said. "The amazing thing is that prior to the shot, if I had NOT moved my head at the very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be with you tonight."
"I am not supposed to be here tonight. I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God. Many people say it was a providential moment," Trump said.
But the crowd chanted: "Yes you are. Yes you are."
And he acknowledged that "none of us knows God’s plan, or where life’s adventure will take us. 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 country we love."
EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO COREY COMPERATORE DURING RNC SPEECH: 'SPIRIT THAT FORGED AMERICA'
Former US President Donald Trump arrives to the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. The RNC chairman warned against complacency when his party concludes its official nominating jamboree this week with polls predicting ex-President Donald Trump prevailing over President Joe Biden in the November election. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
But in the wake of his brush with death, the former president called for a lowering of the temperature in a political climate seared with heated rhetoric from both the right and the left.
"In an age when our politics too often divide us, now is the time to remember that we are all fellow citizens—we are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," Trump stressed.
"We must not criminalize dissent or demonize political disagreement. In that spirit, the Democrat Party should immediately stop weaponizing the Justice System and labeling their political opponent as an enemy of democracy, especially since that is not true," Trump claimed.
Making a pitch "to every citizen, whether you are young or old, man or woman, Democrat, Republican, or Independent, black or white, Asian or Hispanic," Trump repeatedly criticized the administration of the Democratic incumbent in the White House, but only mentioned President Biden's name once.
"They will not have done the damage that Biden has done, only going to use the term once," Trump said. "Biden. I'm not going to use the name anymore. Just one time."
Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, gestures to Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump during the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Republicans used their convention as a venue to reunite the party and energize delegates and activists ahead of the final stretch of the campaign in Trump's 2024 election rematch with Biden.
The push for party unity was on display throughout the convention and included former GOP presidential rivals Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley - who both battled Trump in a contentious primary season - delivering speeches from the podium in support of the former president.
The Biden campaign took aim at Trump, Vance, and Republicans as the GOP convention wrapped up.
President Joe Biden waves as he walks down the steps of Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Biden is returning to his home in Rehoboth Beach, Del., to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Reports over the past 24 hours indicated that top Democrats – including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – have had frank conversations with Biden about him ending his campaign.
And as Trump delivered his convention address, speculation was rampant that the president could bow out of the 2024 election within days.
But Biden campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo told Fox News Digital those reports are "entirely inaccurate."
And another Biden aide tells Fox News Digital that Biden "is more committed than ever to winning this election."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-preaches-unity-he-accepts-gop-presidential-nomination-five-days-after-surviving-assassination-attempt