Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, who ran against former President Donald Trump in the primary election, gave back-to-back impassioned speeches at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, voicing their support for Trump.
“Let me make one thing clear: I strongly support Donald Trump, that’s all!” Haley, Trump’s longest-serving primary challenger, told the Republican National Convention crowd, who celebrated the moment with cheers and applause.
“Donald Trump will stand up for them and stand up for us,” DeSantis said, adding that the former president “nearly lost his life” fighting against the left and for America. “We can’t let him down, and we can’t let America down.”
The former South Carolina governor, who also served as ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s term, said the United States is “at a critical juncture” and that if Democrat President Joe Biden is re-elected “things will get much worse,” and that Americans must vote for Trump “for the good of our country.”
of Associated PressCiting Haley’s spokeswoman, Cheney Denton, The Associated Press reported that Haley had not been invited to the convention, but that changed on Sunday when Haley was added to the speaker list, the day after Trump survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In fact, Haley said that Trump had asked her to speak at the Republican National Convention “in the name of unity.”
Haley stressed that Americans “don’t have to agree with him 100% of the time to vote for Trump”, adding that while she hasn’t always agreed with Trump, “I agree with him more than I disagree with him”.
Haley added that she and Trump both believe in “keeping America strong and keeping America safe” and agree that the Democratic Party has “moved too far to the left, putting our freedoms at risk”.
She also told the audience that President Trump’s national security policies need to be restored, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not start a war with Ukraine during Trump’s administration because “people like him knew Donald Trump was tough.” Haley also said there were fewer problems in the Middle East when Trump was in the White House because Iran “knew he was serious and was afraid.” She also pointed to the debacle at the U.S.-Mexico border, calling it “the biggest threat facing Americans” as migrants stream into the U.S. with few hurdles. Haley then blasted Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, telling the Republican National Convention audience to imagine Harris leading the entire country when she can’t even handle the border.
“This is a defining moment,” Haley warned the Republican National Committee.
Florida’s Republican governor, DeSantis, followed Haley’s speech with a shorter, louder and faster-paced speech peppered with anti-left truth-telling, drawing frequent applause.
DeSantis told the Republican National Committee that under Trump, life was “more affordable,” the “border is more secure” and “our country was respected.” In contrast, he asserted, “Biden has let this country down,” calling the controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan early in his term a “dereliction of duty.” Echoing the concerns of most Americans, DeSantis also said Biden is “just not up to the job.”
The governor then slammed Biden, saying the country could not afford any more of his “Weekend with Bernie” presidency, a reference to the 1989 comedy about two young men who try to bring their dead employer back to life.
DeSantis also criticized the left for wanting illegal immigrants to enter the United States without restrictions, except when they show up in posh, ultra-liberal Martha’s Vineyard. He also criticized the left for using political power as a weapon to attack political opponents, noting that they have repeatedly done the same thing against Trump, filing charges and lawsuits. DeSantis also blasted Democrats for trying to take away gasoline-powered cars and the Second Amendment. On the other hand, he is promoting DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). DeSantis redefined DEI as “divisive, exclusionary, indoctrination, and wrong.”
“Donald Trump will stand up for them and stand up for us,” DeSantis said, adding that the former president “nearly lost his life” fighting against the left and for America. “We can’t let him down, and we can’t let America down.”
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DeSantis ran for president in 2023 but dropped out in January, endorsing Trump as a “superior” candidate to Biden. In April, Trump said he had a “great meeting” with DeSantis in Florida and discussed how they could work together to make America better.
Haley had been opposing Trump for quite some time, but finally dropped out of the race in March after losing 14 of 15 states to Trump on Super Tuesday. Prior to that, Haley had only won the District of Columbia in the primary. After Haley stopped campaigning, Trump became the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, a position that was officially confirmed on Monday, the first day of the Republican National Convention.
Haley said in May that while on the campaign trail, TrumpNo qualifications“I’m going to be president,” Trump said in May, but Haley was not considered As for his running mate — Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance was named Monday — Trump suggested Haley “will be on our team in some capacity.”
This story has been updated.
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