RNC 2024 Day 4 updates: Trump pitches unity, but revives old grievances in longest acceptance speech in history
Trump leaned into his usual talking points during his RNC speech.
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:
Trump sitting with Eric’s family, granddaughter on lap
As Eric Trump speaks, Trump is sitting with his son’s wife Lara Trump and his grandchildren.
Carolina Trump, the youngest child of Eric and Lara, is sitting on her grandfather's lap.
Many members of the Trump family -- including his oldest granddaughter Kai -- have spoken about his softer side this convention.
'God spared his life,' evangelist Franklin Graham says
Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, remarked on the attempted assassination on Trump during his speech.
"Last Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, President Trump had a near-death experience. No question, but God spared his life," Graham said.
Speaking on Trump's time in office, Graham said the former president followed through on his promises to appoint conservative justices to the Supreme Court and "defend religious liberty."
Hulk Hogan riles RNC crowd, rips off shirt
Hulk Hogan, bandana and sunglasses on his head and a sports coat covering his tank top, revved the crowd up with "USA" chants and called Trump "my hero" and a "gladiator."
By the middle of his remarks, he lost his jacket and ripped his tank top off to reveal a Trump-Vance T-shirt, crescendoing with passion as he said,"I think about how his family was compromised, how his business was compromised. But what happened last week when they took a shot at my hero -- and tried to kill the president of the United States -- enough was enough"
"Let Trump-O-Mania rule again, let Trump-O-Mania make America great again," he shouted, a nod to his career as a WWE entertainer.
Hogan abandoned the teleprompter and free-wheeled with his penchant theatrics, earning a "thank you" from Trump and energizing the crowd some 20 minutes before the former president takes the stage to accept his nomination.
Hogan is a popular messenger for Trump
According to YouGov, Hogan is the 41st most famous sports personality in the U.S. Fifty-one percent of people have a positive opinion of him, while only 18% dislike him.
—538's Nathaniel Rakich