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.
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Mike Pompeo says he's 'disgusted' by Afghanistan withdrawal
Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state under Trump, addressed Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan during his remarks.
"I'm disgusted by the Biden administration's incompetent pullout from that country," he said.
To those who served, he said, "Know that your service was honorable."
In other jabs at Biden, he said the president talks a "big game" about American values but has "put woke" into the military and schools, and claimed he "can't handle that 3 a.m. phone call."
Linda McMahon touts Trump tax cuts
Linda McMahon, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration under Trump, spoke about the former president's economic policies during his first term, specifically his tax cut plans.
"He knew that small businesses are the engine of the American economy, and the Trump tax cut proved to be like rocket fuel for them," she said.
McMahon, the co-founder and former CEO of WWE, said that if reelected, Trump would make those tax cuts permanent.
NRCC House chair vows to grow majority: 'We need backup'
National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina made his case to increase the GOP majority in the House.
"We need backup to save America," he said.
Hudson claimed Democrats would "hold sham investigations and hearings to bog down" Trump's agenda if he's elected.
The congressman vowed that a Republican majority would rebuild the military, "stand up to communist China" and "finish the wall."
'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."
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."