The Big Story 

Former President Trump closed the Republican National Convention on Thursday night with a lengthy speech in which he reflected on surviving an assassination attempt and veered into attacking Democratic rivals.

© Greg Nash/The Hill

Here are some highlights from Trump‘s speech formally accepting his party’s presidential nomination:

Trump couldn’t resist ripping into Democratic rivals or going off-script

Despite assurances he would strike a more subdued tone than usual, Trump maintained the grandstanding presence he’s been known for since his first run in 2015, promptly diverting from prepared remarks distributed to reporters earlier in the evening.

He wasn’t supposed to mention rival President Joe Biden by name, but did so late in the address. He noted “the damage that Biden has done” and claimed his successor was the worst president in history. 

Trump went into detail about assassination attempt 

After four days of suspense, Trump, still bandaged after a would-be assassin’s bullet grazed his right ear during a campaign stop, opened by recounting the near-death experience.  

He assured the crowd he would tell them “exactly what happened” but swore he would “never” repeat it publicly because the story is “too painful to tell.” 

The event was like a rock concert – or a wrestling match 

Pulsating music, flashing lights and celebrity appearances delivered a high-energy, testosterone-fueled build-up to the keynote address from Trump.

Thursday’s lineup included celebrity appearances from “American Bad A‑‑” Kid Rock, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan and fight promoter Dana White, who introduced his long-time friend Trump. Country singer Lee Greenwood, a Trump supporter and friend, sang “God Bless the USA” as the former president took the stage. 

Melania and Ivanka make rare campaign appearances 

The evening concluded with the return of two prominent figures who’ve been missing from the campaign trail: Former first lady Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump, the former president’s daughter and onetime senior adviser. 

Neither spoke during the convention. 

What’s next: Trump and running mate JD Vance will head to Grand Rapids, Mich., for their first joint campaign rally on Saturday – the first rally for Trump since the assassination attempt a week prior. 

WELCOME to The Hill’s Campaign Report newsletter, I’m Liz Crisp.

📍 Here’s where you can read more on takeaways from Trump’s nearly 93-minute speech and the final night of the convention, per The Hill’s Brett Samuels, Jared Gans and Julia Mueller.

Essential Reads 

Key election stories and other recent campaign coverage:

Mike Huckabee says voters will see Trump as ‘genuinely decent guy’ after RNC speech

44 percent in new survey say it’s likely Biden will step aside

Democrat calling for Biden to step aside: ‘He didn’t seem to recognize me’ at event

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On Our Watch 

© AP

President Biden insists he’s not going anywhere, even as some Democrats’ question whether he can win in November in the face of mounting concerns over his health and stamina. 

Speculation has swelled in recent days, following a wanting debate performance against Republican rival former President Trump last month, as well as attempts to regain confidence from Democratic lawmakers and voters that have fallen short.

Multiple sources told The Hill they thought it unlikely that Biden would still be in the race after the weekend, but his campaign pushed back on reports that the incumbent’s exit was imminent. 

A defiant Biden, 81, reaffirmed on Friday that he’ll be back campaigning as soon as he’s cleared after testing positive for COVID-19 this week.  

“I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week to continue exposing the threat of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda while making the case for my own record and the vision that I have for America: one where we save our democracy, protect our rights and freedoms, and create opportunity for everyone,” he said in a statement released by his campaign.

“The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win.” 

Floodgates opening: Despite Biden remaining steadfast on staying in the race, more Democrats are joining the chorus calling for his exit, worried that it’s too late to bounce back from negative public perception, sagging poll numbers and devastating fundraising blows. 

New Mexico’s Martin Heinrich became the third Senate Democrat to say the president should step aside on Friday, following the lead of Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who is locked in a tight reelection campaign for a fourth term, who urged Biden to drop out a day earlier. 

Eight more House Democrats also came forward Friday to call for Biden to reconsider his reelection campaign. 

Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) said in a joint statement while they admire and respect Biden, the president “must face the reality that widespread public concerns about your age and fitness are jeopardizing what should be a winning campaign.” 

Reps. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) also urged the president to step down.

👀  Keep up with the latest via The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s Biden Drop Out Tracker. 

In Other News 

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Republican Utah governor endorsing Trump in reversal

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) handed former President Trump an endorsement Friday in the wake of a failed assassination attempt on Trump last weekend, a reversal of his previous position. “Mr. President, I know we have some differences, and you probably don’t like me much. And that’s OK,” Cox wrote in a letter to Trump, which he shared on the social platform X. “I’m not writing this letter looking for a position in your Cabinet …

Almost 2 in 3 Massachusetts Democrats, left-leaning voters want Biden to step aside: Poll

A majority of Massachusetts Democrats or left-leaning voters say they want President Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, according to a new survey. The Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll, released Friday, found 64 percent of Democratic or left-leaning voters in the historically progressive state say they want a different candidate to be the top of the ticket in November. Only 29 percent said they were “satisfied” …

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Biden decision on future expected in coming days, and Harris is considered heir apparent

Well-connected Democratic Party insiders say they expect President Biden to make a major announcement about his future soon after the Republican National Convention concludes in Milwaukee and that congressional leaders expect Vice President Harris will become their nominee for president if Biden drops his reelection bid. The talk among … Read more

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