'Had God On My Side': Donald Trump In First Speech After Attempted Assassination

Donald Trump expressed confidence in achieving an "incredible victory" in the upcoming US presidential election in November.

He delivered this statement during his headline speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday.

Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination, bolstered by the party's enthusiasm following his escape from an assassination attempt and the challenges facing Joe Biden's reelection campaign.

Photo Credit: PTI

"Four months from now, we will have an incredible victory," Trump told a euphoric crowd in Milwaukee, before vowing to "be president for all of America, not half of America."

Donald Trump said there was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way "I felt very safe, because I had God on my side", while describing his experience of the attack.

"If I had not moved my head at the very last instant, the assassin's bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be with you tonight," Donald Trump added.

"I am not supposed to be here tonight," he said, adding, "I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God. Many people say it was a providential moment."

"We have heard some references to divine intervention at this week's convention when speakers have been discussing the shooting, and Trump is touching on a similar theme here," Trump said.

Donald Trump took the stage at the Republican National Convention to chants of "USA" from a crowd whose members have talked of him in divine terms.

The event included warm-up acts like shirt-ripping 1980s wrestling icon Hulk Hogan and conspiracy theorist and far-right media guru Tucker Carlson, who described Trump's survival from an assassination attempt as a historic moment. Carlson said that at the time of the assassination attempt, Trump became the "leader of a nation."

Trump, 78, has put behind him a torrent of scandals, his unprecedented attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, and his 34 felony convictions in May at a New York criminal trial. Now, with Republicans more united behind him than ever, he is increasingly bullish about a shock return to power.

On Friday, Joe Biden, 81, looked close to being forced by his own Democratic Party to withdraw and make way for Vice President Kamala Harris or another candidate, as fears spiral that his faltering physical health will lead to a loss in November. Senior Trump advisor Jason Miller told AFP that "nothing fundamentally changes" for Trump if Biden drops out.

Trump's family was in attendance, with son Eric rousing the crowd into a chant of "fight, fight, fight!" Trump's wife Melania, who has been mostly absent throughout the campaign, arrived to applause but did not speak-a remarkable break with US political convention at such events.

(With agency inputs)