Republican convention needs ‘unifying message’

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.) said Sunday that this week’s Republican National Convention must present a “unifying message” following the assassination attempt on former President Trump at a rally Saturday.

Asked on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday” how the tone of the Republican convention would change after the shooting, Mace said, “Well, I think it has to change.”

“Right now, many of us are angry. We are reeling from the shocking events of last night,” she said, later adding: “We should strike a unifying tone. I think that will happen naturally, that we will have a unifying message, not just for the Republican Party, but for a nation that is going to be hurting and that is going to need time to heal in the weeks and months ahead.”

His remarks come less than a day after a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounding the former president, who said a bullet pierced his ear. One spectator was killed and two other attendees were seriously injured, according to the US Secret Service.

The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks by the FBI, was shot and killed by authorities at the scene. The FBI has not yet determined a motive for the shooting, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, said Saturday night.

“What we saw last night was an attack, literally… an attack on democracy, blood everywhere, casualties, a presidential candidate shot in the ear. It’s disgusting,” Mace said. “We have to condemn this at all costs, but we also have to show leadership.”

Mace’s words echo those of Trump, who called on Americans to unite in a message Sunday morning.

“Right now, it is more important than ever that we stand together and show our true character as Americans by standing strong and determined and not allowing evil to win,” Trump wrote in a message on Truth Social. “I truly love our country, I love all of you, and I look forward to addressing our great nation this week from Wisconsin.”

In the same message, the former president said that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”

The GOP convention is scheduled to begin Monday in Milwaukee, and Trump has confirmed he still plans to attend.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Watley, in an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” predicted a change in mood for the convention, though plans for the week remain largely unchanged.

“I think unity is obviously very important. I think strength is obviously very important, but right now, this morning, I think politics are secondary,” Whaltey said. “I think right now we need to pray for those families that have been impacted, I think we need to be grateful that President Trump is alive and he’s here.”

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