Donald Trump’s promise to usher in “a new era of safety, prosperity and freedom for Americans of every race, religion, color and creed” would seem fanciful at any point in American history.
So, too, is his pledge to “restore the American Dream” and heal the “disunity and divisions in our society” because we are “bound by one destiny, a common destiny.”
After all, we hear a similar paean to our better angels every four years, on schedule. Like a presidential inaugural address, a new candidate’s acceptance speech always sounds grandiose and is forgotten as quickly as the complex business of governing inevitably descends into chaos.
But because we live in extraordinary times and have just witnessed one of the most important weeks in political history, we must view Trump’s comments in a new light.
A man who came close to having a quarter inch of his head blown off by an assassin clearly shows that his survival has given him a new lease on life.
“I’m not supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be dead,” he said in an interview the day after the shooting.
It is a profound emotion, and one that can only arise in someone who has faced sudden death and who sees their life as a gift.
Trump repeated the same remarks on Thursday night, adding at the end that “it is only by the grace of Almighty God that I stand before you on this stage.”
He said Sunday that he had already prepared a “very tough, really great speech talking about this corrupt and awful administration” of Joe Biden, then suddenly added, “But then I threw it out.”
The result was last night’s speech, in which the former president rambled at times and repeated his claims that the 2020 election was stolen, but largely stuck to the script and his promise to “try to unite the country.”
There were many changes in tone and content, and the inclusion of lines such as “I’m running for president not for half of America, but for all of America, because winning for half of America is not winning” was warmly received.
And it captured the spirit of a convention that featured a wide range of Americans united in a frightening sense that the country was in decline.
“To all Americans, young or old, male or female, Democrat, Republican or independent, black or white, Asian or Hispanic, I offer the hand of loyalty and friendship,” Trump said.
Other parts were less encouraging, like when he referred to “crazy Nancy Pelosi,” the kind of insult that will repel those who want to fix the country, dismiss Trump’s name-calling as childish, and ignore everything he says afterwards.
Thus, his speech marked a bizarre ending to one of the most passionate party conventions I have ever seen.
The contrast between the Democratic Party and President Biden could not be starker. Democrats are increasingly urging him to drop out of the race and have threatened to search for a successor at their convention next month.
Some reports say the end could come as soon as Sunday, assuming Biden finally accepts the fact that the public no longer has confidence in his leadership.
Republicans, meanwhile, are increasingly confident of victory in November, and their convention was a continuing celebration that happier days were about to return.
Even before the assassination attempt, Trump was on a roll, with poll after poll showing him building a commanding lead, especially in battleground states.
The sea change began with Biden’s debate gaffe on June 27 and has continued relentlessly, leading members of the president’s own party to pressure him to concede the nomination.
It was an awakening in itself: For more than three years, they had been chalking up evidence of his apparent decline to a right-wing conspiracy.
Suddenly, they accepted that he couldn’t win, that he wasn’t capable of serving a second term, and much of the left-leaning media, after years of covering up for his bumbling and failings, were suddenly turning against him.
Then the assassination attempt happened, Trump responded defiantly, and politics took on a new dimension when the man who escaped death stood up, smeared blood on his face, clenched his fists and said, “Fight, fight, fight.”
This iconic moment revealed that Trump truly has the heart of a lion and gave a boost to his campaign.
Recent polls have shown his lead growing, and polls released before the speech showed him leading in all seven battleground states.
Still, the race is not over yet, and some analysts say the difference is largely due to Biden’s declining approval ratings, and that Trump may have reached his limits.
Importantly, if Biden’s successor wins the presidential election, it could intensify the race again and, if not the presidency, give Democrats at least a chance to win one or both houses of Congress.
That’s the way it was when Trump took the stage on Thursday. My guess is that he knows his struggle to articulate a new hope for national unity has cost him wavering voters.
To be sure, there will be plenty of other opportunities for Trump to adopt a new tone and offer new ideas, and Democrats may continue to hurt themselves by failing to field a replacement for Biden.
Indeed, Biden himself may be encouraged by Trump’s shaky performance and decide to keep fighting to stay on the shortlist — a long-term strategy that could drain Democratic resources and certainly help Republicans.
Either way, Trump still has time to practice what he preaches, articulating a new vision for a united nation free from pervasive hatred. As he begins his work on Thursday, hopefully he is determined to chart a new course for an America in desperate need of strong, generous leadership.
