In a remarkable display of unity, former Republican primary rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis celebrated Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention on July 16, 2024. The event took place just days after an armed man attempted to shoot Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 15, leaving one person dead.
Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and Trump's last standing primary rival, urged her supporters not to agree with Trump 100% of the time but still vote for him for the sake of the nation. She spoke about her belief in America's ability to self-correct and emphasized that unity is crucial during challenging times.
Ron DeSantis, Florida's governor, spent most of his speech criticizing Democrats' policies on immigration, education, and gender identity. He highlighted the importance of border security and American energy independence as key concerns for voters.
The Republican National Convention marked a stark contrast to the divisions increasingly ripping through the Democratic Party. While some speakers focused on crime and border security, others emphasized religious freedom and lower inflation to appeal to various voter demographics.
Despite their past criticisms of Trump, Haley and DeSantis joined other former foes such as Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders in supporting Trump's reelection campaign. Their speeches showcased forgiveness from Trump and the Republican base for past dissents.