As GOP changes, Newt Gingrich remains

MILWAUKEE — The GOP 's shift toward populism and Trumpism has left some of its elder figures in the lurch. Not so with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich .

Gingrich, who engineered the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, entered the party's convention stage 30 years later to cheers of "Newt! Newt! Newt!" One woman yelled "We love you!" as he began speaking.

Since leaving Congress in 1999 following a rocky last few years as speaker, Gingrich has remained a beloved figure in the party for his views on American exceptionalism. That was the theme of his foreign policy-focused speech.

"President Trump understands that the world is dangerous and that it takes an enormous effort to defeat anti-American and anti-freedom forces around the world," he said. "He also understands that when faced with multiple adversaries across the globe, the Reagan principles of peace through strength is the only road for safety for the American people."

Some conservatives argue that Reagan's principles are fading as the party names a vice presidential nominee who has at times argued against funding for the war in Ukraine. Even still-current figures such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have been booed inside the convention hall.

But Gingrich, who ran for president in 2012 and at 81 is the same age as President Joe Biden , was happy to defend Trump's policy views.

"The contrast between President Trump's realistic policy of resolute strength in a dangerous world and President Biden's policies of appeasement, weakness, and self-delusion may be the biggest difference between the Make America Great Again movement and the make-America-weak ideology of the Left," Gingrich said.

"We have to remember that the greatest threat to American safety is not Biden's brain," he continued. "The greatest threat is Biden's policies and the people that he appoints to implement them."

Gingrich's wife, Callista Gingrich, spoke ahead of him with a speech focused on what she described as Biden's attacks on religious freedom, saying his administration's "anti-faith agenda uses the power of the government to impose intolerant ideology on religious believers."

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Newt Gingrich pointed to Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal, the terrorist attacks on Israel, and the invasion of Ukraine as failures caused by the president's weakness.

"Like Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Abraham Lincoln, President Trump understands that only a firm, courageous policy of strength will work in a dangerous world," he said. "The message for this November is clear. You can vote for weakness and war with Biden, or you can vote for strength and peace with President Trump."