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--:-- Georgia Howe: I'm not supposed to be here tonight. Not supposed to be here.
--:-- John Bickley: Yes, you are! Yes, you are! Yes, you are! Yes, you are! Yes, you are!
--:-- Georgia Howe: Donald Trump takes to the stage of the RNC and delivers a historic speech accepting the Republican nomination.
--:-- John Bickley: Friends, delegates and fellow citizens, I stand before you this evening with a message of confidence, strength and hope. I'm Daily Wire editor in chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Friday, July 19th, and this is Morning Wire. The embattled head of the Secret Service is confronted by Republicans amid yet more damning revelations. You owe the people answers. You owe President Trump answers. And from Gold Star families who lost loved ones at Abbey Gate to a mother who lost her son to fentanyl, the Republican Party gave the stage to the forgotten Americans.
--:-- Georgia Howe: In the nearly three years since Hunter's been gone, there has been a deafening silence from the Biden and Harris administration.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know. flexible financing program for a few more weeks. So head over to netsuite.com slash morningwire. That's netsuite.com slash morningwire. netsuite.com slash morningwire.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Donald Trump took the stage at the RNC last night to officially accept the Republican nomination for president, offering his first public remarks since the attempt on his life. Joining us now is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Hey, Cabot, so you were in the room last night when Trump gave that lengthy address, an hour and 45 minutes, in fact, a historic evening on multiple fronts. Walk us through the night.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Yeah, you could argue this was the most highly anticipated convention speech in modern American history, as the American people have not really heard from Donald Trump since he came an inch away from losing his life just five days earlier.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: The night featured the usual cast of political figures like Mike Pompeo and Tucker Carlson, as well, though, as a few celebrities like UFC boss Dana White and even a very pumped up Hulk Hogan, who, by the way, ripped his shirt off to reveal a Trump Vance undershirt.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Yes, that is a thing that really happened. Yes, it did.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: But everyone was there for Trump. Picture the most raucous rock concert you've ever been to, combine it with the loudest sporting event you've ever attended, and then add in a person with the most rabid base of supporters, arguably on planet Earth. Sorry to the Taylor Swift fans out there.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Trump took the stage to a three-minute standing ovation as Lee Greenwood sang, God bless the USA.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Yeah, I was in the room as well, and it really did feel like a historic moment. So let's get to the substance of the speech. What did we hear from the former president?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, coming in, the big question was how he would address last week's assassination attempt. He started by saying he would tell the story one time and one time only because it was too painful to talk about
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Here are some excerpts I started to like this turn to my right when I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard on my right ear. I said to myself, wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet. and moved my right hand to my ear, brought it down. My hand was covered with blood. Wanted to do something to let them know I was okay. I raised my right arm, looked at the thousands and thousands of people that were breathlessly waiting, and started shouting, fight, fight, fight. Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And I'll tell you, I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Moments later, in probably the most poignant moment of the night, he asked for a moment of silence for Cory Comparator, the rally attendee who was killed shielding his family from the gunfire. The former president appeared to have tears in his eyes before walking over to Comparator's firefighter jacket and helmet, which he gave a kiss. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for others. This is the spirit that forged America in her darkest hours. And this is the love that will lead America back to the summit of human achievement and greatness. This is what we need.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Despite such a heinous attack, we unite this evening more determined than ever.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Now, John, I've been to quite a few Trump rallies and events over the years. and the crowd always goes wild when he's on stage. But last night was just totally different. Yes, there was the excitement. Yes, there was the noise. But there was something else too, emotion. We've never really seen this vulnerable version of Trump and it really seemed to resonate. I saw a number of folks crying as he spoke in that moment. And that mirrors what I heard from attendees all week long. They are deeply grateful he's alive. And I could sense this new resolve and fervor in their support.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Now, a word I heard all week from surrogates and delegates was unity, and Trump touched on that throughout the evening, including when he formally accepted the nomination. The discord and division in our society must be healed. We must heal it quickly. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together or we fall apart.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America. So tonight, with faith and devotion, I proudly accept your nomination for president of the United States. Thank you.
--:-- Georgia Howe: As part of their apparent efforts at Unity, Trump's address intentionally did not include the word Biden. Trump instead opted for this administration or the man in charge, but did slip up once during one of the many times he went off script before chastising himself.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: If you took the 10 worst presidents in the history of the United States, think of it, the 10 worst, added them up. They will not have done the damage that Biden has done. I'm only going to use the term once. Biden. I'm not going to use the name anymore. Just one time.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Again, there were a number of times Trump made direct allusions to Biden, pointing out the contrasts between their administrations on the economy, immigration, foreign policy. But he was clearly attempting to offer a more optimistic, unifying message.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: So the Republican National Convention is in the books. It was a wild week. And now the eyes of the political world will turn to the Democrats as they prepare for their convention in mid-August. with the big question looming, who will be accepting their nomination? Yeah, a growing number of reports suggesting Biden might not be the person on that stage.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Kevin, thanks for reporting. Anytime.
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--:-- Georgia Howe: Secret Service Chief Kimberly Cheadle was confronted by conservative lawmakers at the RNC this week as more details about the agency's security failures come to light. Here to discuss is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presta-Giacomo.
--:-- Amanda Presta-Giacomo: So Secret Service Chief Kimberly Cheadle and FBI officials actually briefed lawmakers by phone on Wednesday. And at that time, it was revealed that the Secret Service snipers spotted the shooter Thomas Crooks on the rooftop 20 minutes before gunfire erupted. The officials actually revealed on the call that Crooks also teased the assassination attempt just days before the shooting. He posted on a gaming platform called Steam, quote, July 13th will be my premiere. Watch as it unfolds. He also visited the rally site two different times after the Butler rally was announced.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Other information we've pieced together, it appears the parents of the shooter actually alerted officers about their son hours before Crooks opened fire. The parents, this is according to a CNN report, they told law enforcement that their son left with the rifle to go to a shooting range and was supposed to be home by 1 p.m. on Saturday, but he was hours late and still missing.
--:-- Amanda Presta-Giacomo: Reports also indicate that Crooks tried to get into the rally with a rangefinder three hours before the shooting at around 3 p.m. That's when security first became suspicious of Crooks, and they kept an eye on him until he left the secured area. There's also video of the shooter lurking behind the Trump rally an hour before he took fire. Unsurprisingly, this sparked a lot of questions and anger.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here's Representative Mike Waltz, a combat vet, talking about that time lapse on Fox News. The protocols are gun, gun, gun, president's off. Or I've been at a rally where local law enforcement called in, we have something suspicious, and they held the president, and he didn't go out until it was cleared. Of course. So clearly there was a major breakdown between local and the inner core close-in detail.
--:-- Amanda Presta-Giacomo: So Cheadle was actually at the RNC this week, and some senators confronted her. Tell us what happened there.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Yeah, things got a bit explosive. Cheadle was up in a suite, and she said she was there thanking partners who helped secure the RNC. Numerous senators, including Marsha Blackburn and John Barrasso, they confronted her in person about the security failure.
--:-- Amanda Presta-Giacomo: Apparently, during the phone briefing earlier that day, Blackburn and some of the more conservative lawmakers said they were not permitted to ask their questions. And Senator Barrasso actually said Cheadle hung up on them. He later said the whole phone call was a, quote, cover your you know what type of briefing.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Some of the audio here is a little tough to hear. But in this interaction, Cheadle refuses to engage directly, and she contends that the RNC suite was just not the right forum for such questions.
--:-- Amanda Presta-Giacomo: Can you give us an explanation? Why would anyone allow a president to go on stage when you know you've got a potential threat? Can you've got snipers that are trying to help you? I don't think that they've got a president. Oh, yes, no. You hung up on him. We're here.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Morning Wire actually got a chance to sit down with Blackburn, and here's what she said about Cheadle. I think the Secret Service director should be fired. Anybody who cannot give you answers that night, go before the American people and say, this is what happened. I don't know if she has visited the site yet.
--:-- Amanda Presta-Giacomo: We also sat down with Congressman Mark Green, and he echoed that call. He noted Cheadle's attempt to blame the sloped roof of the shooter's location as for why they didn't place an agent there. I mean, that excuse of the slope of the building alone should be enough to show either A, whoever made that decision, but her explanation of her willingness to use that as a legitimate excuse and to try to pass that off to the American people shows she can do this job And so I think she needs to step down
--:-- Georgia Howe: While Cheadle evaded those questions at the RNC she is set to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Monday Well hopefully the American people can get some good answers Amanda, thanks for reporting.
--:-- Amanda Presta-Giacomo: You're welcome.
--:-- John Bickley: One of the major focuses of the Republican National Convention this year was hearing from the forgotten Americans who feel that their stories are not being heard. John reports from the Daily Wire RNC booth in Milwaukee.
--:-- Georgia Howe: From Gold Star families to the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, the Republicans highlighted the stories of voters who are often overlooked by the coastal-centric legacy media and political class. Here to discuss is Daily Wire contributor David Marcus.
--:-- David Marcus: Hey, Dave. So let's start with the Gold Star families, one of the most powerful moments in the convention, no doubt. Afterward, I interviewed Cheryl Jules, that's the aunt of Nicole G., a soldier killed in the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. To be frank, it was hard not to choke up as she told me about hearing the names of the dead recited back by the crowd. Take a listen. We were all shaking. I mean, our legs were shaking. You know, we were just trying to hold it together and taking the moment. It was pretty powerful. But, you know, saying their names was important to us. But then for a crowd of so many people with tears in their eyes, chanting their names back, it meant more than I think anybody will ever understand.
--:-- Georgia Howe: How did that moment resonate for the audience and the delegates?
--:-- David Marcus: Morning, John. Very similarly to your reaction, I'm not sure there was a dry eye in the House as the families of the soldiers killed at Abbey Gate came out to a standing ovation and said the names of their fallen loved ones. The underlying theme here was that this tragedy occurred on Joe Biden's watch and that instead of showing grief or concern, he was seen checking his watch at the dignified return of bodies.
--:-- Georgia Howe: This was set next to the story one mother told about meeting with former President Trump. Here's some of that. I had expected to meet an arrogant politician. Instead, I met a man who had empathy for us. He was compassionate and he spent time with us because he knew it would make us feel better. Thank you, President Trump.
--:-- David Marcus: This was probably the most emotional moment of the entire convention, and that could really be felt in the room. Indeed, it was incredible being there in the center for it.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Now, we also heard from Trent Conaway, the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio. That's where last year a train derailment released toxic chemicals and black smoke into his town. What did he have to say about Biden? Nothing good.
--:-- David Marcus: You may recall at the time there was no shortage of controversy over Biden refusing to visit East Palestine to the point of real anger in the town. And we heard some of that very anger in Conway's fiery remarks such as here. For the longest time, the White House was silent and we never heard a word from Vice President Harris. I guess we weren't their type of folks. No Hollywood elites or Wall Street billionaires live in East Palestine, just hardworking Americans.
--:-- Georgia Howe: This was really one of the moments that have given Americans the perception of an absent presidency. And combined now with the real concerns about Biden's mental and physical capabilities, it is painted in a slightly different light.
--:-- David Marcus: But the bottom line was that the mayor does not think Biden cares about these parts of the country, especially if they're Republican-leaning.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Yeah. Now, these are voters who are often ignored, but we're given a bright spotlight here at the convention. How central to Trump's campaign are these voices and stories?
--:-- David Marcus: It's essential and always has been core to Trump's message. In 2019, I interviewed a family in Missouri who explained the former president's appeal and flyover country very simply. He listens to us, they told me. And from my own reporting this cycle, voters not only still feel that way, but further, they feel that Biden and the Democrats are lecturing, not listening.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Much of Biden's economic message, for example, centers on the idea that American voters just don't understand that actually things are great. is not something most people are buying into. And it provides Trump a chance to point out again that when voters tell Biden what they think and feel, the president doesn't show a whole lot of interest.
--:-- David Marcus: Well, the forgotten voter is a powerful message, Dave. Thanks so much for coming on.
--:-- Georgia Howe: It's been such a pleasure reporting with you at the RNC this week. As always, thanks for having me.
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--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back later this afternoon with more news you need to know. Bye.
