It was a tough spot for country singer Lee Greenwood as he was set to introduce Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention. The crowd of 17,000 delegates, however, had already caught a glimpse of Trump on the big screen, eagerly awaiting his entrance, with videos showing the rapturous welcome the former President received.
As Greenwood performed 'God Bless The USA' at Milwaukee's Fiserv Arena, the audience's attention was elsewhere; they were captivated by the sight of Trump backstage , his right ear bandaged, as chants of "fight, fight, fight" began to swell.
Surrounded by Secret Service agents, Trump made his grand entrance into the arena. Greenwood had successfully hyped up the Republican faithful, and now it was time for 'The Don' to take the stage. Known for their spectacle and fervor , Trump rallies are a unique blend of showmanship and chaos, but this event surpassed all expectations.
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As the 78-year-old Presidential nominee advanced towards the VIP section, the arena echoed with chants of "USA, USA, USA". Then, the crowd witnessed the first 'fist' salute Trump's new signature gesture after surviving an assassination attempt just two days prior, a stark reminder of the danger he'd faced from an AR-15-wielding attacker reports the Mirror US .
Trump seemed touched and somewhat sheepish under the spotlight a stark contrast to his usual persona. Greeting him in the exclusive section were three of his offspring - Tiffany, aged 30, Eric, who's 40, and Donald Jnr, the eldest at 46. Also present in the front row were Vice Presidential hopeful JD Vance and ex-Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson.
While Trump refrained from speaking at the convention, he acknowledged the crowd with smiles and waves as fans chanted "Fight, fight, fight". The entrance of speaker Amber Rose - known for her social media presence and as Kanye West's former partner - was postponed due to the applause.
Delegates from Texas honored Trump with their stetsons, while camera flashes illuminated the venue. The anticipation for Trump's address on Thursday is high, as it's touted to be the RNC's highlight, yet this moment might just overshadow it. Outside the Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee's renowned drinking establishments broadcasted Trump's appearances on large screens.
Scott Williams, a 35-year-old lifelong Democrat from Shorewood, observed the scene at the County Clare Irish pub, commenting, "I can't stand the man, but that takes balls to appear in public two days after a dude tried to kill you." Sam Miller, a 31-year-old from Whitefish Bay, quipped, "Donald ain't never taking that bandage off again."
Milwaukee's choice to host the RNC has been a mixed bag for locals and businesses. Hotels and eateries are fully booked, with event organizers estimating a $195m boost to the city's economy. However, residents are irate as large parts of downtown Milwaukee have been cordoned off by the Secret Service.
The Fiserv Arena, home turf of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, is safeguarded by an unparalleled ring of steel. Five vehicle checkpoints are manned by local and federal agents along with Secret Service officers.
Drivers are required to open their boots and bonnets while sniffer dogs inspect their vehicles for explosives. Snipers have also been positioned on rooftops near the main convention venue. Officers from 25 states have been brought into the city for the four-day event, with police teams on horseback and bicycles seen patrolling the perimeter on Monday afternoon.
They were accompanied by hundreds of protesters and pro-Trump supporters in the sweltering heat above 90 degrees. Officers were spotted arresting one intoxicated anti-Trump demonstrator at a pro-Palestine rally in a park near the Forum.
Traders were also seen doing a roaring trade selling 'Make America Great Again' t-shirts and caps. US President Joe Biden has acknowledged that it was a "mistake" to say the Democrats need to put "Trump in the bullseye". Speaking to NBC, Biden clarified that his intention was to highlight Trump's policies and rhetoric.
"It was a mistake to use the word," he conceded during his first sit-down interview since the shooting incident involving Trump in Pennsylvania . "I didn't mean it. I didn't say crosshairs. I meant bullseye. I meant focus on him, focus on what he's doing."
Despite this, Biden stood by his description of Trump as a threat to democracy and saw no reason to soften his language. "I've not engaged in that rhetoric," he insisted.
"Now, my opponent is engaged in that rhetoric. How do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says?
"Do you just not say anything, because it may incite somebody? I am not the guy that said I want to be a dictator on day one, I am not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election."
Meanwhile, Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle admitted the assassination attempt on Trump "should never have happened". In an ABC 'Good Morning America' interview, she stated, "the buck stops with me". Ms Cheatle revealed that agents were actively searching for the assailant, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, at the time of the attack.
"I'm being told that the shooter was actually identified as a potential threat of suspicion," she said. "Units started responding to seek that individual out. Unfortunately, with the rapid succession of how things unfolded, by the time that individual was eventually located, they were on the rooftop and able to fire off at the former president. I am the director of the Secret Service. It was unacceptable, and it's something that shouldn't happen again."
Yesterday's theme at the RNC was crime and immigration. Trump was due to appear in the main arena again last night (Tues). Former PM Liz Truss is due to speak at an event on Wednesday while Trump's running mate Vance will deliver the main speech.
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Reform Party leader Nigel Farage is also due to fly to Milwaukee on Wednesday evening after the King's Speech in the House of Commons. He will be present for pal Trump's much-anticipated speech on Thursday. Anti-Trump protest groups said they had "made their point" at demonstrations on Monday and would be holding no further gatherings.
Shares in Trump's social media company have surged after he survived the assassination attempt on Saturday. Trump Media, which runs the Truth Social platform, closed up about 31%.
The price had risen as much as 70 percent in pre-market trading over the weekend before falling back again. Analysts said the gains reflected bets that the shooting had improved his chances of winning the election in November.
Billionaire Elon Musk is among those who have formally endorsed Trump since the shooting. Trump founded the Trump Media and Technology Group in 2021 after he was booted off major social platforms. Truth Social claims to have roughly 2 million active users.
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