Donald Trump fired up delegates at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland Thursday evening, finally closing a chapter of a bitter primary and sealing his position as the official presidential nominee for the Republican Party later this year.
Thursday was the final day of the three-day RNC, which has make headlines over plagiarism and Ted Cruz getting booed offstage for his refusal to endorse Trump.
Trump addressed a high-energy crowd, beginning his speech by highlighting plans to combat violence in the U.S., both from domestic forces and from Islamic terrorists.
“Our Convention occurs at a moment of crisis for our nation,” Trump told delegates. “The attacks on our police, and the terrorism of our cities, threaten our very way of life. Any politician who does not grasp this danger is not fit to lead our country.”
Delegates chanted “USA, USA, USA,” at various points during the businessman’s speech, their cheers growing louder and louder as Trump’s speech went on.
Trump vowed to be the one to bring peace back to America, seeming confident he would be the one to win the White House come November.
“I have a message for all of you: the crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon, and I mean very soon, come to an end,” Trump promised. “Beginning on January 20th of 2017, safety will be restored.”
Trump told delegates he would bring law and order to the country, slamming Obama for “dividing” America by race.
“In this race for the White House, I am the law and order candidate,” Trump told a cheering crowd. “The irresponsible rhetoric of our President, who has used the pulpit of the presidency to divide us by race and color, has made America a more dangerous environment that frankly that I have ever seen of anybody in this room has ever watched or seen.”
The Obama administration, Trump contended, failed inner cities on pretty much every front, from education to jobs to crime.
Instead of more of the same, Trump said what the country desperately needs is a sharp departure from the ways of the past.
“A change in leadership is required to produce a change in outcomes,” he said.
Promises were made all over the board, from fixing the economy, resolving student debt, to fostering better relations with foreign countries.
But those promises weren’t made without criticizing the presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for her stance on the American economy.
“I am going to bring our jobs back to Ohio and Pennsylvania, and New York, and Michigan, and all of America – and I am not going to let companies move to other countries, firing their employees along the way, without consequence,” Trump explained. “Not going to happen anymore.
My opponent, on the other hand, has supported virtually every trade agreement that has been destroying our middle class. She supported NAFTA, and she supported China's entrance into the World Trade Organization – another one of her husband's colossal mistakes and disasters.”
Trump pledged to renegotiate with China and with NAFTA, essentially changing the country’s foreign economic trade agreements.
The crowd went wild for Trump, cheering him on.
“America is a nation of believers, dreamers, and strivers that is being led by a group of censors, critics, and cynics,” Trump said.
At the end of the speech, Trump went back to his campaign slogan, pledging to bring America back to the top.
“We will make America strong again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again,” said Trump. “And we will make America great again.”
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
