Nikki Haley emphasized unity and support for former President Donald Trump during the second day of the Republican National Convention.
Conservatives kicked off day two of the Republican National Convention by rallying around former President Donald Trump’s goal to „make America safe again“, attacking President Joe Biden’s record on crime, national security and the border.
The night also notably included an address from former GOP presidential challenger Nikki Haley, who kicked off her speech by stating Trump invited her to speak at the event in the „name of unity.“ She emphasized that while she may not always agree with Trump, they „agree more often than we disagree“, and she urged her supporters to back him.
„We have a country to save, and a unified Republican Party is essential for saving her“, Haley said. „When Donald Trump was president, Putin did nothing—no invasions, no wars. That was no accident.“
Haley preceded to tout Trump’s record on national security, an issue that stood central to the evening’s theme: Make America safe again. Central to that message included additionally condemnation of Biden’s handling of the border, crime and fentanyl deaths.
Throughout the night, speakers invoked Vice President Kamala Harris‘ name alongside Biden’s. While Harris has received some conservative backlash over her status as the administration’s „border czar“, the VP received an unusual amount of criticism Tuesday night, a possible reflection of the GOP preparing to shift its line of attack should Biden bow out of the race after his poor debate performance against Trump.
As uncertainty surrounds American politics, Republicans appear sure that a policy platform tied to safety will increase their chances in 2024. Here are key takeaways surrounding that message that emerged throughout night two.MAGA Remains Energized Around the Border
Trump’s 2016 rise to the top of the Grand Old Party was fueled in part by his plan to secure the border. Eight years later, that message remains as alive as ever.
Under Biden, America has seen a historic number of migrant encounters at the southwest border. In 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered over 1.73 million migrants at the border.
