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RNC 2024 Day 4 updates: Trump pitches unity, but revives old grievances

Trump leaned into his usual talking points during his RNC speech.

Last Updated: July 18, 2024, 6:56 PM EDT

On the fourth and final day of the Republican National Convention, former President Donald Trump gave a highly anticipated speech, which he said beforehand would call for unity following his assassination attempt.

However in his first speech since the incident, Trump leaned into his usual talking points, slamming President Joe Biden, Democrats and other critics on a wide variety of issues from the economy, immigration and crime.

For over an hour, Trump went off script much to the crowd's delight. The former president told them he was grateful for their support after his brush with death but argued that the country needed to be fixed due to Biden's policies.

The night also included wild speeches from guests such as Hulk Hogan and Eric Trump, who echoed some of the former president's rhetoric bashing Biden and the Democrats.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
6:56 PM EDT

'A risen man': What RNC attendees expect from Trump tonight

Convention-goers spoke with ABC News Digital about what they are expecting to hear from Trump tonight as he accepts the nomination.

"Here's where he lays out his ideas of what he's going to do when he gets elected in November, and what he's going to do for the next four years," said delegate Adolpho Telles. "It's exciting for all us."

As Trump takes the stage to accept the Republican nomination, delegates expect a message of unity from him.
As Trump takes the stage to accept the Republican nomination, delegates expect a message of unity from him.

Telles added, "Given what happened on Saturday, to have that man standing in front of us today, it shows his strength. I mean, the guy's outstanding."

Several attendees said that after the attempted assassination attempt, they expect to hear about unity and see a different side of Trump.

"I expect to see a risen man, a man who has had an encounter, a transformative encounter, with the divine, with death and with God, and God won," said delegate Minerva Diaz. "So I expect to see a transformed man who now is going to embrace all the people who love him, every person of every nation."

"I am already hearing these messages of unity, these messages of hope, these messages of the principles that will bring us to that culmination of the unity," said delegate Betty Chu.

"I'd like to hear how he's going to continue to unify our country, as he's been doing so well," said one woman. "And I think he has given us the opportunity to bring back our country, and he's going to tell us how he is going to do that."

Another said she expects the stadium to be on "fire."

6:55 PM EDT

Mary Millben sings the national anthem

Mary Millben sings the US national anthem during the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 18, 2024.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Actress Mary Millben, who has performed for four consecutive presidents, sang the national anthem to help open the fourth night of the convention.

Actress Mary Millben, who has performed for four consecutive presidents, sang the national anthem to help open the fourth night of the convention.
Actress Mary Millben, who has performed for four consecutive presidents, sang the national anthem to help open the fourth night of the convention.

6:33 PM EDT

4th and final night of the RNC gets underway

The fourth and final night of the RNC is getting underway, as delegates were asked to take their seats.

The night's theme is Make America Great Once Again and will feature a keynote speech by Trump, marking the first time he will speak publicly following his assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

Attendees hold signs on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

5:33 PM EDT

Trump says he won't mention Biden during speech

Trump told Fox News on Thursday that he will not mention Biden by name in his speech tonight.

A source close to the former president also told ABC News that the speech as prepared for delivery does not mention "Biden."

-ABC News' John Santucci