Had God on my side: Donald Trump recounts assassination bid in first speech

Former United States President Donald Trump took centre stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

While accepting the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, he stated, “Tonight, with faith and devotion, I proudly accept your nomination for President of the United States.”

Recalling the assassination attempt, Donald Trump stated that he survived it by divine intervention. “I had God on my side,” he stated.

It was Donald Trump’s first speech since 20-year-old Thomas Mathew Crooks took a shot at him, wounding one of his ears, during a rally last weekend.

“I am not supposed to be here tonight — not supposed to be here,” Donald Trump stated, while the crowd roared back. “Yes, you are.”

As he walks to the podium to deliver his acceptance speech, “God Bless the USA,” a live patriotic song performed by Lee Greenwood fills the air, gradually building the intensity.

The 78-year-old Republican leader stated that his supporters raised 6.3 million US dollars for the victims of the shooting incident in Pennsylvania.

Trump also observed a moment of silence for Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter and father of two, who died in the shooting at the Pennsylvania rally.

The usually combative president adopted an unusually sombre, almost whispering tone as he cautioned against demonising political opponents.

Trump warned against vilifying rivals and criminalising dissent. He then portrayed himself as the victim of politically motivated charges. “If Democrats want to unify our country, they should drop these partisan witch hunts,” he said.

“In that spirit of unity, the Democratic Party should immediately stop weaponising the justice system and labelling their political opponent as an enemy of democracy. Especially since that is not true. In fact, I am the one saving democracy for the people of our country,” he added.