Trump Steals the Show at RNC After Surviving Assassination Attempt

Donald Trump made a dramatic appearance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, days after surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. Wearing a bandage over his injured ear, Trump entered the hall to roaring applause, greeted supporters, and announced Senator JD Vance as his running mate.

Donald Trump, wearing a white bandage partially covering his injured right ear, stole the show when he made his first public appearance on the opening night of the Republican National Convention here, days after surviving an assassination attempt.

Trump on Monday entered the convention hall to roaring applause from thousands of delegates and holding his fist aloft towards the end of the first day of the four-day convention being held at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, a city in the US state of Wisconsin.

The former president entered the convention arena here with a fist raised and to the strains of a live performance of "God Bless the USA". He then slowly walked through cheering delegates who pumped their fists and called out "Fight! Fight! Fight!" He then greeted key political allies and members of his family, including three of his children, but not his wife Melania.

The former US president escaped an assassination bid when a bullet grazed his ear at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Supporters on the convention floor and standing in the stadium sang along to a live rendition of "God Bless the USA" with singer Lee Greenwood. Trump was accompanied by his newly-announced running mate Senator JD Vance.

On Monday, delegates from across the country nominated him as the Republican presidential nominee for the November 5 general election against incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden. It was the third consecutive time that Trump has received the Republican Party's nomination. Trump will deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday. The delegation from Florida put him over the top, with Eric Trump, the second son of Trump, awarding the state's delegates to his father.

Several lawmakers and other officials spoke, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Senator Tim Scott, and Representative Byron Donalds.

Earlier in the day, Trump announced that Senator Vance, 39, would be his running mate. He was welcomed by the crowd with a thunderous applause. The choice reflects Trump's belief that Vance is an effective communicator who can sell Trump's populist agenda — particularly to working-class voters in states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where presidential elections can be decided by thousands of votes.

(With inputs from agencies.)