GOP describes Trump’s pandemic response as a triumph, paints dark picture of Biden’s ‘socialist’ America
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The first night of the Republican National Convention offered a sweeping defense of President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and depicted Democrats as a threat to an America engulfed in national protests.
“From a global pandemic, to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, 2020 has tested our nation in ways we haven’t seen for decades,” Sen. Tim Scott, of South Carolina, said. “Make no mistake: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want a cultural revolution. A fundamentally different America. If we let them, they will turn our country into a socialist utopia.”
The backdrop for Trump’s convention: an America in turmoil as the pandemic rages and protests continue calling for an end to racial injustice. The convention pulled frequently at those two threads, bouncing between praising the federal response to coronavirus and casting Democrats as socialists who would stoke racial animosity and allow riots to rage.
“They put political correctness ahead of the safety and security of the American people,” Donald Trump Jr. said. “Anarchists have been flooding our streets and Democrat mayors are ordering the police to stand down.”
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Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, considered a likely candidate to run for president as a Republican in 2024, delivered a defense of America’s racial dynamics, offering a personal story of her immigrant parents.
“In much of the Democratic Party, it’s now fashionable to say that America is racist. That is a lie. America is not a racist country,” Haley said. “America is a story that’s a work in progress. Now is the time to build on that progress, and make America even freer, fairer, and better for everyone. That’s why it’s tragic to see so much of the Democratic Party turn a blind eye toward riots and rage.”
The convention sought to depict the pandemic in an optimistic tone, detailing the response overseen by the federal government and touting medical treatments. In contrast, it showed protesters as violent and dangerous, warning Democrats would usher in more unrest.
“Democrats no longer view the government’s job as protecting honest citizens from criminals, but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens,” said Mark McCloskey, who along with his wife Patricia McCloskey gained national attention when they pointed guns as Black Lives Matter protesters marching past their St. Louis home.
“So make no mistake: No matter where you live, your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats’ America,” Patricia McCloskey said. “What you saw happen to us could just as easily happen to any of you watching from quiet neighbors around the country.”
The president enters his convention trailing rival Democrat Joe Biden in the polls, and he faces a torrent of criticism for his administration’s handling of the pandemic. This week’s convention will be his most aggressive attempt yet to turn the national sentiment in his favorite.
“Democrats won’t let you go to church, but they’ll let you protest,” Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said. “Democrats won’t let you go to work, but they’ll let you riot. Democrats won’t let you go to school, but they’ll let you loot. President Trump has fought against their crazy ideas.”
Trump made his first appearance of the evening in a pre-taped video from the White House where he gathered at a distance with first responders to discuss their experience with the coronavirus.
Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative student group Turning Point USA, began the speaking program Monday night by casting Trump as “the bodyguard of western civilization.”
Kirk said America was “under attack by a group of bitter, deceitful, vengeful, activists who have never built anything in their lives.”
Trump is scheduled to make an appearance every night, ending with his formal acceptance speech on Thursday, the final night of the convention. Trump made a taped appearance Monday with six hostages who were rescued during his administration.
Throughout the evening Americans from around the country shared personal stories about how Trump’s policies have positively impacted their lives.
A California educator applauded Trump for his opposition to teacher unions; a Montana woman thanked the president for emergency coronavirus loans that saved her coffee business; a West Virginia nurse praised the White House for expanding telehealth in response to the pandemic.
Democrats hosted their convention last week, conducting the event almost entirely remotely and receiving high praise for the production value. Republicans will feature taped videos, but conclude each night with a more traditional format featuring a series of speakers on a single stage.
The first night began with a series of taped speeches in an empty auditorium.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel also sought to cast Biden as a far-left candidate and argued that much of his “radical” plans were unknown to the American public.
“If you watched the DNC last week you probably noticed that Democrats spent a lot of time talking about how much they despise our president. But we heard very little about their actual policies,” she said.
The Republicans decided to forgo a new party platform this year and instead passed a resolution to leave in place their 2016 platform.
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Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of Trump’s most fervent defenders, mocked Biden for not holding more events outside of his home during the pandemic.
“I’m speaking from an auditorium emptier than Joe Biden’s daily schedule,” Gaetz said.
Gaetz called a Biden administration a “horror movie.”
“They’ll disarm you, empty the prisons, lock you in your home, and invite MS-13 to live next door,” Gaetz said. “And the defunded police aren’t on their way.”
CORRECTION (Aug. 24, 2020, 7:10 p.m. ET): A photo caption on a previous version of this article misidentified Tim Scott’s congressional position. He is a senator, not a House member.
