C-SPAN video, 2

Program for Thursday, July 18, 2024

Note: All times are central time zone and subject to change.

5:30-6PM
  • Sen. Steve Daines (MT)
  • Rep. Richard Hudson (NC), Chair of National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)
6-6:30PM
  • Diane Hendricks, everyday American
  • Diane Evans, everyday American
  • Linda McMahon, former Administrator of Small Business Administration
  • Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State
6:30-7PM
  • Pastor Lorenzo Sewell
    [ed. - Trump dance video]
    [ed. - Trump entry]
  • John Nieporte, everyday American
  • Steve & Zach Witkoff
7-7:30PM
  • Alina Habba, President Donald J. Trump's attorney
  • Tucker Carlson, founder of Tucker Carlson Network
7:30-8PM
  • Carrie Ruiz, everyday American
    [ed. - Trump family entry]
  • Hulk Hogan, professional entertainer and wrestler
  • Annette Albright, everyday American
8-9PM
  • Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
  • Eric Trump
    [ed. - Melania entry]
    [ed. - 5 1/2 min. video]
    • Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship [transcripts]
    9-10:30PM
    • President Donald J. Trump

    ###

    MAGA Inc.
    July 18, 2024

    Make America Great Once Again

    As Donald J. Trump takes the stage tonight to formally accept the Republican Party’s nomination for President of the United States of America, it is evident that he is the only man for this moment. Only President Trump has the will, the strength, and the expertise to right the wrongs inflicted upon America by the Biden administration and set this country back on a path to greatness.
     
    In this defining hour, we stand at the crossroads of history. The stakes have never been higher, and the choice has never been clearer. Under Joe Biden, we’ve witnessed a relentless assault on our freedoms, our economy, and our American way of life. But today, on this final day of the Republican National Convention, a beacon of hope shines brighter than ever before.
     
    As we look toward the future with renewed hope and determination, it’s crucial to remember the character and actions that define true leadership. President Trump’s commitment to the American people goes beyond policy and politics; it is rooted in compassion, decisive action, and an unwavering dedication to making a difference in the lives of individuals.
     
    These stories illustrate the heart and humanity of the man who stands ready to lead our nation back to greatness:
     
    In 1980, then-Mayor Ed Koch closed New York City’s beloved Wollman Rink, a Central Park icon, due to failed reconstruction efforts that had spiraled over budget. By the summer of 1986, it seemed the rink might never reopen. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Donald Trump stepped in and promised Koch that if given the project, he’d have it open by Christmas. Utilizing his private sector construction expertise, Trump accomplished what government bureaucracy could not. On November 1, 1986, the Wollman Rink was reopened, saved by Trump’s determination and skill.
     
    In 1988, three-year-old Andrew Ten was suffering from a rare breathing illness and required special medical care available only in New York. Commercial airlines, however, refused to let Andrew travel from California due to his condition. When Andrew’s parents, Harold and Judy, reached out to Donald Trump for help, he did not hesitate: “Yes, I’ll send my plane out.” Harold told reporters that future-President Trump lived the Talmudic expression, “He who saves one person’s life is as if he saved the entire world.” Andrew’s grandmother, Feigy Ten, declared, “Donald Trump is a miracle, just a miracle.”
     
    In 2013, Darnell Barton, a bus driver from Buffalo, NY, was on his regular route when he saw a young woman standing on an overpass, staring down at the busy expressway below. Without a second thought, Barton stopped his bus, approached the distressed woman, and gently helped her back over the guard rail. He stayed with her, offering words of comfort and hope until first responders arrived. After saving her life, Barton quietly returned to driving his route, embodying true heroism. When Donald Trump heard of Barton's selfless act, he announced he would give him $10,000, saying, “He’s a special guy and he has to be rewarded for that.”
     
    In 2014, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi was released from a Mexican prison after enduring over two hundred days of abuse and torture. Despite pleas for help, then-President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden refused to intervene, leaving the family to spend tens of thousands on legal fees. Moved by their plight, Donald Trump donated $25,000 to the family, providing much-needed relief and support.

    President Donald J. Trump
    GOP Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech
    Republican National Convention
    Milwaukee, WI
    July 18, 2024

    [excerpts from prepared remarks]

    I stand before you this evening with a message of confidence, strength, and hope. Four months from now, we will have an incredible victory, and we will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country.

    Together, we will launch a new era of safety, prosperity and freedom for citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed.

    The discord and division in our society must be healed. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart.

    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.

    Let me begin this evening by expressing my gratitude to the American people for your outpouring of love and support following the assassination attempt at my rally on Saturday.

    As you already know, the assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life. So many people have asked me what happened, and therefore, I’ll tell you what happened, and you’ll never hear it from me a second time, because it’s too painful to tell.

    Despite such a heinous attack, we unite this evening more determined than ever. Our resolve is unbroken, and our purpose is unchanged--to deliver a government that serves the American People.

    Everything I have to give, with all of the energy and fight in my heart and soul, I pledge to our nation tonight.
    This election should be about the issues facing our country and how to make America successful, safe, free, and great again.

    In an age when our politics too often divide us, now is the time to remember that we are all fellow citizens—we are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

    On this journey, I am deeply honored to be joined by my amazing wife, Melania. Thank you, Melania, and thank you also for your beautiful letter to America calling for national unity. It captivated so many.

    I also want to thank my entire family—Don and Kimberly, Ivanka and Jared, Eric and Lara, Tiffany and Michael, Barron, and of course, my ten wonderful grandchildren.

    I am thrilled to have a new friend and partner fighting by my side: the next VICE PRESIDENT of the United States, the current Senator from Ohio, J.D. Vance, and his incredible wife, Usha.

    And a very special thank you to the extraordinary people of Milwaukee and the great state of Wisconsin for hosting this outstanding convention.

    We will Make Wisconsin Great Again, I promise.

    I am here tonight to lay out a vision for the whole nation. To every citizen, whether you are young or old, man or woman, Democrat, Republican, or Independent, black or white, Asian or Hispanic, I extend to you a hand of loyalty and friendship.

    Together, we will lead America to new heights of greatness like the world has never seen before.

    Under our leadership, the United States will be RESPECTED again. No nation will question our power. No enemy will doubt our might. Our borders will be totally SECURE. Our economy will soar. We will return LAW and ORDER to our streets, PATRIOTISM to our schools, and importantly, we will restore peace, stability, and harmony all throughout the world.

    But to achieve this future, we must first rescue our nation from failed leadership. This will be the most important election in the history of our country.

    Under the current administration, we are a nation in decline.

    We have an INFLATION CRISIS that is making life unaffordable, ravaging the incomes of working and low-income families, and crushing our people.

    We also have an ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CRISIS – a massive invasion at our southern border that has spread misery, crime, poverty, disease, and destruction to communities all across our land.

    Then there is an INTERNATIONAL CRISIS the likes of which the world has seldom seen. War is now raging in Europe and the Middle East, a growing specter of conflict hangs over Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, and all of Asia, and our planet is teetering on the edge of World War Three, and this will be a war like no other.

    It is time for a CHANGE. We simply cannot sustain four more years of this administration.

    So tonight, I make this pledge to the great People of America.

    I will END the devastating Inflation Crisis immediately, bring down interest rates, and lower the cost of energy—we will DRILL, BABY, DRILL, which will lead to a large-scale decline in prices.

    I will END the Illegal Immigration Crisis by closing our border and finishing the wall, most of which I have already built.

    I will END every single International Crisis that the current administration has created—including the horrible war with Russia and Ukraine, and the war caused by the attack on Israel, both of which would never have happened if I were president.

    Together, we will restore VISION, STRENGTH, COMPETENCE, and COMMON SENSE to the Oval Office.

    Just a few short years ago under my presidency, we had the most secure border and the best economy in the history of our country. We had NO inflation, soaring incomes, and the world was at peace.

    But in less than four years, our opponents have turned incredible success into unparalleled tragedy and failure.

    Today, our cities are flooded with illegal aliens. Americans are being squeezed out of the labor force and their jobs taken. Inflation has wiped out the life savings of our citizens, and forced the Middle Class into a state of depression and despair.

    We cannot, and will not, let this continue. Less than four years ago, we were a great nation, and we will soon be a great nation again.

    With proper leadership, every disaster we are now enduring will be fixed—and fixed quickly.

    So tonight, whether you’ve supported me in the past or not, I hope you will support me in the future, because I will bring back the American Dream.
    With great humility, I am asking you to be EXCITED about the future of our country.

    This week, the entire Republican Party has formally adopted an agenda for America’s renewal.

    First, we must get economic relief to our citizens. Starting on Day One, we will drive down prices and Make America AFFORDABLE again!

    Under this administration, groceries are up 50%, gasoline is up 60%, mortgage rates have quadrupled, and you can’t get the money anyway. Total household costs have increased an average of $28,000 per family.

    Republicans have a plan to bring down prices, and bring them down fast. By slashing energy costs, we will in turn reduce the cost of transportation, manufacturing, and all household goods. We have more liquid gold under our feet than any other country—we as a nation will make a fortune with oil and gas.

    Next, we will end the ridiculous waste of taxpayer dollars that is fueling the inflation crisis. And all of the trillions of dollars that are sitting there not yet spent, will be redirected for important projects like roads, bridges, dams, and we will not allow it to be spent on the meaningless Green New Scam.

    I will END the Electric Vehicle Mandate on Day One—thereby saving the U.S. auto industry from complete obliteration, and saving U.S. customers thousands of dollars per car.

    I will bring auto jobs back to our country, through the proper use of taxes, tariffs, and incentives, and will not allow massive auto manufacturing plants to be built in Mexico, China, or other countries, where they send the product back to the United States, and steal our jobs, creating a hopeless situation for our companies and autoworkers.

    We have long been taken advantage of by other countries, often being considered our allies. We lose jobs and revenue, they gain everything, and wipe out our businesses. I stopped it four years ago, and I will stop it again. We will not let countries come in, take our jobs, and plunder our nation.

    The way they will sell their product in America is to BUILD it in America, and ONLY in America. This will create massive jobs and wealth for our country.

    At the center of our plan for economic relief are massive tax cuts for workers—and that includes NO TAX ON TIPS. That means if you are a restaurant worker, bartender, hospitality worker, caddy, barber, mover, driver, or anyone else who relies on tip income, your tips will be 100% YOURS.

    I gave the biggest tax cut in history, bigger than the Reagan Tax Cuts, but I am going to lower taxes still further.

    By contrast, Democrats have promised to end the Trump Tax Cuts and impose a record-setting $5 trillion tax hike. I am going to LOWER taxes—Democrats are going to RAISE taxes.

    I am going to PROTECT Social Security and Medicare—Democrats are going to DESTROY Social Security and Medicare.

    Under my plan, incomes will skyrocket, inflation will vanish, jobs will come roaring back, and the Middle Class will prosper like never before.

    But no hope or dream we have for America can succeed unless we stop the illegal immigrant invasion at our Southern Border.

    At the heart of the Republican platform is our pledge to end this border nightmare, and to fully restore the sacred and sovereign borders of the United States of America—on Day One.

    Less than four years ago, I handed this administration the strongest border in American history.

    We ended all catch-and-release. Shut down asylum fraud. Stopped human trafficking, and forged historic agreements to keep illegal aliens on foreign soil.

    Under the Trump Administration, if you came in illegally, you were apprehended immediately and deported.

    The current administration terminated every single one of those great Trump policies that I put in place to seal the border.

    They suspended wall construction, ended Remain in Mexico, cancelled our Safe Third agreements, demolished Title 42, implemented nationwide catch-and-release, and took 93 executive actions to throw open our border to the world.

    The greatest invasion in history is taking place right here in our country—they are coming in from every corner of the earth, not just from South America, but from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East—they’re coming from everywhere, and this administration does nothing to stop them.

    They are coming from prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums, and terrorists at levels never seen before.

    Meanwhile, our crime rate is going UP, while crime statistics all over the world are plunging. That’s because they’re delivering their murderers, drug dealers, terrorists, and criminals of all shapes and forms, into the United States.

    We have become a dumping ground for the world, which is laughing at us. They think we’re stupid. They can’t believe what they’re getting away with, but getting away with it they are.

    In Venezuela, crime is down 72 percent. In El Salvador, murders are down 70 percent. The world’s criminals are coming here, to a town near you—and are being sent by their governments, because their governments are smarter than ours.

    Tonight, America, this is my vow: I will not let these killers and criminals into our country. I will keep our sons and daughters safe.

    As we bring security to our streets, we will help bring stability to the world.

    I was the first president in modern times to start NO NEW WARS.

    There was peace in Europe and the Middle East. Under President Bush, Russia invaded Georgia. Under President Obama, Russia took Crimea. Under the current administration, Russia is after all of Ukraine. Under President Trump, Russia took nothing.

    We defeated 100 percent of ISIS in Syria and Iraq, something that was going to take five years, and I did it in two months.

    I stopped the missile launches from North Korea.

    Iran was weak, broke, and wanted to make a deal—they were not spending money on Hamas, Hezbollah or other carriers of terror, and Iran was never going to have a nuclear weapon. Now, they can have one within 90 days, and they have $300 billion dollars to spread terror across the region.

    Our opponents inherited a world at peace and turned it into a planet of war.

    It began to unravel with the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the worst humiliation in the history of our country. 13 heroic U.S. servicemembers were tragically and needlessly killed, 45 others were horrifically wounded, and $85 billion dollars’ worth of military equipment was left behind, along with many American citizens.

    Emboldened by that disaster, Russia invaded Ukraine. Israel endured the worst attack in its history. Now China is circling Taiwan, and Russian warships and nuclear submarines are operating 60 miles off our coasts in Cuba, and the media doesn’t want to talk about it.

    And to the entire world, we want our hostages back—and they better be back before I assume office, or you will be paying a very big price.

    With our victory in November, the years of war, weakness and chaos will be over.

    We will replenish our military, and build an Iron Dome Missile Defense System to ensure that no enemy can strike our homeland—and this great Iron Dome will all be MADE IN THE USA.

    We will unleash the power of American innovation—and as we do, we will soon be on the verge of finding the cures to cancer, Alzheimer’s, and many other diseases.

    We will restore and renovate our nation’s once-great cities, making them SAFE, clean, and beautiful again–and that includes our nation’s capital in Washington D.C. We will be proud of our capital again.

    America is on the cusp of a new Golden Age, but we must have the courage to seize it.

    Just a few short days ago, my journey with you nearly ended. And yet here we are tonight, all gathered together, talking about the future, promise, and renewal of America. We live in a world of miracles.

    None of us knows God’s plan, or where life’s adventure will take us. But if the events of last Saturday make anything clear, it is that every single moment we have on earth is a gift from God. We have to make the most of every day for the people and country we love.

    For too long, our nation has settled for too little. You have been told to lower your expectations and to accept less for your families.

    I am here tonight with the opposite message: Your expectations are not big enough. It is time to start expecting and demanding the best leadership in the world, leadership that is bold, dynamic, relentless, and fearless.

    We are Americans. Ambition is our heritage. Greatness is our birthright. 
    But as long as our energies are spent fighting each other, our destiny will remain out of reach. We must instead take that energy and use it to realize our country’s true potential—and write our own thrilling chapter of the American Story.

    Tonight, I ask for your partnership, for your support, and I am humbly asking for your vote. Every day, I will strive to honor the trust you have placed in me, and I will never let you down.

    To all of the forgotten men and women who have been neglected, abandoned, and left behind, you will be forgotten no longer. We will press forward, and together, we will WIN, WIN, WIN.

    Nothing will sway us. Nothing will slow us. And no one will stop us.
    No matter what dangers come our way, no matter what obstacles lie in our path, we will keep striving toward our shared and glorious destiny—and WE WILL NOT FAIL.

    Together, we will SAVE THIS COUNTRY, we will restore the Republic, and we will usher in the rich and wonderful tomorrows that our people truly deserve.

    America’s future will be BIGGER, BETTER, BOLDER, BRIGHTER, HAPPIER, STRONGER, FREER, GREATER, and MORE UNITED than EVER BEFORE!

    Thank you, God Bless You, God Bless Wisconsin, and God Bless the United States of America.
    MAGA Inc.
    July 18, 2024

    President Trump Delivers A Powerful Speech At The RNC

    President Donald Trump delivered a powerful speech at the Republican National Convention Thursday, where he formally accepted the Republican nomination for President of the United States.
     
    Eric Trump said: "He stood tall, fueled not by personal ambition, but by a profound love for this country and a love for all of you -- the American people. That man is the 45th President and soon to be 47th President of the United States."
     
    Journalist Tucker Carlson: "I think it was divine intervention. But the effect it had on Donald Trump, he was no longer just a political party's nominee, or a former president, or a future president. This was the leader of a nation."
     
    UFC President Dana White: "I'm in the tough guy business and this man is the toughest, most resilient human being that I have ever met in my life. The higher the stakes, the harder he fights -- and this guy never ever gives up!"
     
    Highlights from President Trump's speech:
     
    President Trump: “Four months from now, we will have an incredible victory...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.”
     
    President Trump: “As you already know, the assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life. So many people have asked me what happened, and therefore, I’ll tell you what happened, and you’ll never hear it from me a second time, because it’s too painful..."
     
    President Trump: "In an age where our politics too often divide us, now is the time to remember that we are all fellow citizens. We are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
     
    President Trump: "I'm here tonight to lay out a vision for the whole nation. To every citizen...I extend to you a hand of loyalty and of friendship. Together, we will lead America to new heights of greatness like the world has never seen before."
     
    President Trump: "I am thrilled to have a new friend and partner fighting by my side: the next Vice President of the United States, the current Senator from Ohio, J.D. Vance, and his incredible wife, Usha."
     
    President Trump: "So tonight, I make this pledge to the great people of America: I will end the devastating inflation crisis immediately, bring down interest rates and lower the cost of energy."
     
    President Trump: "Whether you've supported me in the past or not, I hope you will support me in the future because I will bring back the American dream...With great humility, I am asking you to be excited about the future of our country."
     
    President Trump: "A very special thank you to the extraordinary people of Milwaukee and the great state of Wisconsin...And by the way, Wisconsin, we are spending over $200 million dollars here, creating jobs and other economic development all over the place—I hope you will remember this in November!"
     
    President Trump: "The greatest invasion in history is taking place right here in our country. They are coming in from every corner of the earth...and this administration does absolutely nothing to stop them."
     
    President Trump: "Just a few short years ago under my presidency, we had the most secure border and best economy in the history of our country."
     
    President Trump: "I'm going to protect Social Security and Medicare. Democrats are going to destroy Social Security and Medicare because all of these people -- by the millions they're coming in...they are destroying your Social Security and your Medicare."
     
    President Trump: "Tonight America, this is my vow: I will not let these killers and criminals into our country. I will keep our sons and daughters safe."
     
    President Trump: "For too long, our nation has settled for too little...You have been told to lower your expectations and to accept less for your families. I am here with the opposite message. Your expectations are not big enough."
     
    President Trump: "Just like our ancestors, we must now come together, rise above past differences...and go forward, united as one people -- one nation -- pledging allegiance to one great, beautiful American flag."
    Democratic National Committee
    July 19, 2024

    Statement from Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign Chair Jen O'Malley Dillon on Donald Trump’s RNC Speech

    "Tonight, Donald Trump rambled on for well over an hour and failed to mention Project 2025 even once. He failed to mention how he had inflicted pain and cruelty on the women of America by overturning Roe v Wade. He failed to mention his plan to take over the civil service and to pardon the January 6th insurrectionists. He sought to find problems with America, not to provide solutions. But after all, it was Donald Trump who destroyed our economy, ripped away rights, and failed middle class families. Now he pursues the presidency with an even more extreme vision for where he wants to take this country. Trump’s Project 2025 agenda is the single biggest attack on our personal freedoms and way of life ever proposed in modern American history.

    “President Biden is running on a different vision. He’s running for an America where we defend democracy, not diminish it. Where we restore our rights and protect our freedoms, not take them away. One where we create opportunities for everyone, while making the super wealthy finally pay their fair share. That is the future President Biden believes in and is the future that millions of our fellow Americans believe in too. The stakes have never been higher. The choice has never been more clear. President Biden is more determined than ever to defeat Donald Trump and his Project 2025 agenda in November.”

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