In a significant show of Republican Party unity, former primary rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis endorsed Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 16, 2024. Haley, the former South Carolina Governor and UN Ambassador, delivered a speech that directly addressed Trump skeptics within the party.”You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him. Take it from me,” Haley stated, emphasizing the importance of party cohesion in the face of what Republicans view as high stakes in the upcoming November election. This endorsement marks a significant shift from Haley’s previous criticisms of Trump during the primary campaign, where she had described him as unfit to lead.The convention, themed ‘Make America Safe Once Again,’ focused heavily on issues of national security and immigration. Both Haley and DeSantis attacked the policies of President Joe Biden, with DeSantis specifically criticizing Biden as too old for the job.Trump, who is still recovering from a recent assassination attempt, was present at the convention and listened to the endorsements personally. The former president has vowed to launch the largest deportation effort in U.S. history if re-elected.While the endorsements were met with mostly positive reception, some delegates remained wary of Haley’s past criticisms. Nevertheless, the event largely succeeded in projecting a united front for the Republican Party as it gears up for the November 2024 election.
Key points
- Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, former primary rivals of Donald Trump, endorsed him at the Republican National Convention.
- Haley addressed Trump skeptics, emphasizing that 100% agreement isn’t necessary for support.
- The convention focused on themes of national security and immigration, with criticism of Biden’s policies.
- Trump, recovering from an assassination attempt, was present at the convention.
Contradictions👾While most sources report a positive reception to Haley’s endorsement, one source mentioned that her speech was met with a mix of applause and boos.
