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