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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, 6:39 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.
6:33 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

4:32 PM EDT

Speaker Johnson says Trump 'in a great place' following assassination attempt

During a conversation with Politico, Speaker Mike Johnson said he believes Trump "is in a great place" following the attempted assassination.

"I think, you know, in his heart and in his head, he's in a place where you would want a future president to be in a moment like we're facing for the country," Johnson told Rachael Bade, co-author of Playbook and contributing political correspondent for ABC News.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks on stage on the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Johnson said he spoke with Trump about God and how a near death experience gets anyones attention after the shooting.

The speaker said Trump will address this directly in his speech tonight, saying "I think it's gonna be momentous. I think it's going to be historic, I think."

"I think he's going to talk about unifying the country, which is what he's implied he changed the content of the speech," Johnson added. "That's exactly what the country needs to hear. Right now. And he's the person who could deliver that, and it's going to be a very important moment for all of us."

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

4:28 PM EDT

Rev. Franklin Graham credits Trump with defeating Roe v. Wade

Rev. Franklin Graham, the influential evangelist preacher who is scheduled to speak at the convention Thursday night, talked with ABC News Live hours before he is set to take the stage.

Graham spoke about Trump's changed stance on abortion that would leave the matter up to the states.

"President Trump ... has a very difficult position because he has to represent all Americans and that includes people who have different views," said Graham, who is publicly anti-abortion.

"I believe President Trump had Roe v. Wade defeated," Graham added. "No other president has been able to do that."

When asked about his support for Trump after he became a convicted felon, his ties to a porn star or his offensive remarks, Graham responded, "Donald J. Trump has made many mistakes in his life, and I'm sure he regrets, many of them ... all of them."

"But at the same time, I look at his policies and what they do for America … and so I believe that Donald J. Trump can ... help get this country's economy back," he added.

Graham is the son of influential evangelist Billy Graham, who died in 2018.

-ABC News' Isabella Meneses