With the Republican National Convention set to kick off on Monday, many are wondering what to expect following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
Shortly after Saturday’s shooting in Pennsylvania, which left the president bleeding, one dead, and two in critical condition, Trump shared that he was “fine” and was preparing to show up to the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern is on the ground in Milwaukee, and he shared with his station that the mood right now in Milwaukee is somber.
“I would say that people are a little bit somber, a little sobered up from what they might normally be, maybe a little less rah-rah, but we’ll see if that lasts. But, you know, they’re enthusiastic,” Sovern said.
Sovern says that despite the events of Saturday, many seem excited for the convention and for the former president to speak.
The morning after the shooting, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would address the nation this week in Milwaukee.
“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
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Now, following the assassination attempt, Sovern expects the crowd and delegates to get back to their usual selves, if not more supportive of Trump at the convention.
“I would imagine over the course of a couple of days it’ll get back to, you know, mostly normal, and they’ll be, you know, perhaps even more fired up than they were before, after what happened,” Sovern said. “But, certainly in talking to a few people, sort of shaking their heads, they couldn’t believe it. It was a shock to hear what had happened in Pennsylvania, and we’ll see what their mood is once they actually do gather here at the arena.”
As for the response from Democrats, Sovern says that Democrats have begun pulling their ads and instead offered condemnation against the attack and support for Trump’s well-being.
“They planned the whole counter-messaging operation here in Milwaukee. They’re going to turn that down a little bit,” Sovern said. “So, in one respect, that’s going to set them back a little because they had planned to do this counter-messaging operation that now is not going to be implemented as much. So the Republicans will have free reign over the next few days.”
As for how Republicans will respond, Sovern says he isn’t certain, and it may end up being on a case-by-case basis.
“I would imagine, you know, the organizers of the convention want to sort of keep things in check, but that doesn’t mean individual officeholders, delegates, politicians won’t go over that line,” he said. “We’ll just have to see how that plays out.”
For more from Sovern and what to expect this week at the RNC, listen here.
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