Donald Trump recounted the terrifying moment he realized he was struck by a bullet in his first public speech since an attempted assassination, telling party faithful at the Republican National Convention that his resolve has never been stronger.
含羞草研究社淚 said to myself, 含羞草研究社榃ow, what was that? It can only be a bullet,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 Trump said as Republicans cheered and wiped tears from their eyes during the former president含羞草研究社檚 closing speech at the four-day convention in Milwaukee Thursday.
Some world leaders have expressed concern over the looming possibility Trump will return to the White House, as President Joe Biden stepped back from campaigning after testing positive for COVID-19 this week at a critical time for the Democrats.
Speculation about Biden含羞草研究社檚 future and mental acuity have been swirling following a disastrous debate performance against Trump last month and multiple missteps at the NATO leaders含羞草研究社� summit in Washington last week.
Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont., said Trump can be erratic, and global leaders are worried they can含羞草研究社檛 rely on stability from the U.S.
Trump said America has been taken advantage of by other countries. He said some call themselves allies and pointed to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was forced into renegotiation during the first Trump administration. The outcome of that negotiation, called the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, is up for review in 2026.
Ahead of Trump含羞草研究社檚 speech, Canada含羞草研究社檚 ambassador to the United States was urging Canadians to talk to Americans about the countries含羞草研究社� important relationship.
含羞草研究社淚f you are at the lake this summer with some American neighbours, just take a moment to remind yourselves and themselves how lucky we are to have each other as neighbours,含羞草研究社� said Kirsten Hillman, who was attending the convention.
含羞草研究社淎nd how much prosperity and security we get out of it.含羞草研究社�
Trump has mused about higher duties on foreign goods, suggesting a blanket 10 per cent tariff on nearly all imports.
In an interview, Hillman said the United States is a 含羞草研究社渘oisy ecosystem,含羞草研究社� and it takes a lot of work to ensure information about the Canadian relationship gets through.
Hillman said she has met with senators, representatives in Congress and members of Trump含羞草研究社檚 previous administration at the convention.
含羞草研究社淔undamentally, Americans who are elected to represent their people want to make sure that they are prosperous, that they are safe, that they have a future, that their children have a future 含羞草研究社� and their relationship with Canada is a real contributor to those goals.含羞草研究社�
Trump, with a white bandage on his right ear, formally accepted the Republican presidential nomination as he stood on a stage in front of a mock-up of the White House.
He took a more introspective tone, reflecting on the moment he almost lost his life at the rally in Pennsylvania Saturday. He also rallied supporters against Democrats, saying they含羞草研究社檝e been conducting partisan witch hunts and denouncing the current administration含羞草研究社檚 record.
Republican Ed Schlesser said he feels like Trump has shown a more tempered side to his leadership since the shooting.
含羞草研究社淗e really wants to do it for the whole United States and the world,含羞草研究社� said Schlesser, wearing a red Trump shirt.
Following the shooting, the former president called for unity. Lebo said any sense of oneness across party lines quickly disappeared from convention speakers含羞草研究社� talking points as the rhetoric became increasingly adversarial.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 not Donald Trump. That含羞草研究社檚 not the party platform. That含羞草研究社檚 not the party right now,含羞草研究社� he said of the conciliatory tone.
Trump called the U.S. a nation in decline, pointing to illegal immigration and foreign policy under the Democrats.
含羞草研究社淯nder our leadership, the United States will be respected again,含羞草研究社� Trump told the crowd to cheers.
Trump含羞草研究社檚 comments likely did little to quell global concerns about America含羞草研究社檚 role in the world, which were already heightened by Trump含羞草研究社檚 choice for running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
Vance will just 含羞草研究社渢oot Trump含羞草研究社檚 horn,含羞草研究社� Lebo said.
The vice-presidential nominee has been a vocal opponent of U.S. military aid to Ukraine as it fends off Russia含羞草研究社檚 invasion. In addition, Trump has repeatedly said he would not defend NATO members that don含羞草研究社檛 meet defence spending targets.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to meet NATO含羞草研究社檚 target, the equivalent of two per cent of gross domestic product, by 2032. But he has been criticized for the lengthy timeline and the lack of detail on how Ottawa will make it happen.
Several premiers have urged Canada to meet the NATO spending target, stressing a need to preserve bilateral relations.
含羞草研究社淔or Canada and its relationship with the United States 含羞草研究社� we are significant trading partners 含羞草研究社� we want them to respect us fully, in all aspects, including our ability to honour obligations,含羞草研究社� said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston at the Council of the Federation meeting this week in Halifax.
Vince, who did not want to give his last name, travelled from Illinois to the convention to show his support for the Republican leader. He thinks Trump recognizes the special relationship with Canada.
含羞草研究社淲e are neighbours,含羞草研究社� Vince said.
含羞草研究社淵ou wouldn含羞草研究社檛 know if there wasn含羞草研究社檛 borders, you would never know what side of the border you含羞草研究社檙e on. We含羞草研究社檙e all the same.含羞草研究社�
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