Trump watches former primary challengers speak at convention as GOP projects unity

WASHINGTON (TND) — Several of Donald Trump’s challengers in the Republican primary spoke at the party’s national convention as he and vice presidential nominee JD Vance watched in the crowd in a showing of party unity in the wake of the attempt on the former president’s life.

Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who both launched primary challenges against Trump in a race that got personal and divisive, had primetime spots in the lineup on Tuesday as the party continues to project a united front behind Trump.

Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who was a fierce advocate for Trump even while challenging him for the primary, also had a speaking slot. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who was considered for vice president after ending his primary campaign, delivered a speech during the convention’s opening night.

Trump and Vance joined the festivities about halfway through the program Tuesday night, arriving in time to hear DeSantis and Haley speak.

Haley was a last-minute addition to the lineup after being the last person to drop out of the GOP primary race and waiting two months to say she would vote for Trump. She released her delegates just last week and told them to vote for Trump.

She reversed course on a decision not to speak at the convention in the hours after the attempt on Trump’s life.

“President Trump asked me to speak at this convention in the name of unity. It was a gracious invitation and I was happy to accept,” Haley said.

Despite frequently attacking him during her primary run, Haley sought to contrast Trump with Biden rather than focus on the party’s own divisions like she did in the primary. She encouraged people who supported her but are skeptical of voting for Trump to cast their ballots for him in November.

"Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period," Haley said, adding, “You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him.”

DeSantis, whose campaign fell apart as he failed to gain traction and flamed out before New Hampshire with a distant second-place finish in Iowa after spending $160 million, criticized President Joe Biden and his handling of the southern border. The Florida governor also touched on several culture war issues that were a centerpiece of his campaign.

“Our enemies do not confine their designs to between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. We need we need a commander-in-chief who can lead 24 hours a day and seven days a week. America cannot afford four more years of a ‘Weekend at Bernie's’ presidency,” DeSantis said.