Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, during her address at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, praised America’s notable capacity for self-improvement.
Speaking less than a day after a union leader criticized corporate America in Milwaukee, Haley reversed her stance by endorsing former President Donald Trump, urging critics of Trump to consider the alternative: President Joe Biden. Other speakers, including Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, and grieving parents, delivered heartfelt messages as the GOP and Trump’s campaign tried to soften the former president’s image.
Haley began her speech with a strong endorsement of Trump, putting an end to any doubts about her position and winning over a crowd that was initially indifferent. Her speech marked a decisive turn away from dissent within the 2024 GOP primary campaign. While she tried to support Trump without fully endorsing all his ideas, other speakers uniformly praised Trump, highlighting his leadership and criticizing Biden’s presidency.
Haley, who consistently performed well among GOP voters in the 2024 primary, appealed to moderate, suburban Republicans. She emphasized the necessity of supporting Trump for the nation’s sake and lauded Trump’s foreign policy, speaking from her experience as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations.
Other former rivals, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, also expressed their support for Trump, underscoring his ability to unite the country and criticizing Biden. Former opponents such as Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz also joined in praising Trump.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a vocal critic of Trump, called for lasting unity in a New York Times op-ed, contrasting with the unity-focused messages at the convention. Although some speakers like Kari Lake used their platform to make contentious statements, others like Pennsylvania Senate contender Dave McCormick called for unity.
Lara Trump closed the night by paying tribute to Trump and extending an olive branch to Democrats and independents. She acknowledged that while some may not have liked everything Trump tweeted, they were better off during his presidency. She also addressed the recent attempt on Trump’s life, praising his resilience and positioning him as the strong and fearless leader America needs.