JUBILANT GOP delegates cheered as they formally nominated Donald Trump during the Republican National Convention kickoff, less than two days after an assassination attempt on the former President and shortly after he announced Ohio Senator JD Vance as his vice presidential running mate. Their vote on Monday makes it official that Trump, who has long been the presumptive nominee, will lead the GOP in a third consecutive election. The winner in 2016, he lost to current President Joe Biden in 2020. In November, he will again face Biden, who dismissed Vance as “a clone” of Trump. Trump’s son Eric announced Florida’s votes, which put the former President over the top for the nomination. Video screens in the arena read “OVER THE TOP” while the song “Celebration” played and delegates danced and waved Trump signs.

 

Throughout the voting, delegates flanked by “Make America Great Again” signs applauded as state after state voted their support for Trump’s second term. Saturday’s shooting at a Pennsylvania rally, where Trump was injured and one man died, was not far from delegates’ minds as they celebrated - a stark contrast to the anger and anxiety that had marked the previous few days. Some delegates chanted “fight, fight, fight” - the same words that Trump was seen shouting to the crowd as the Secret Service pushed him off the stage, his fist raised and face bloodied. “We should all be thankful right now that we are able to cast our votes for President Donald J Trump after what took place on Saturday,” said New Jersey State Senator Michael Testa as he announced all of his State’s 12 delegates.