Trump ends longest speech in RNC history with kiss from Melania: Live updates

Donald Trump gave a nearly two-hour speech to conclude the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Thursday.

Trump concluded his speech — the longest in RNC history — as balloons fell from the Fiserv Forum ceiling and Melania Trump joined him on stage, giving him a brief kiss. The former president’s wife made a surprise appearance at the convention hours earlier, sitting with vice presidential candidate JD Vance for the keynote speech.

The former president opened his speech by describing the assassination attempt against him: “If I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be here tonight.”

He also kissed the helmet of retired fire chief Corey Comperatore, who was killed at the Saturday rally.

Throughout the speech, Trump peddled many of his often-repeated arguments, including the baseless claim that the 2020 election was stolen, and that the world is on the brink of “World War III.”

Several Trump family members joined him ahead of his speech including daughter Ivanka and husband Jared Kusher. The former president made his own dramatic entrance earlier in the night, greeted by a standing ovation as AC/DC’s “Back in Black” played.