Donald Trump‘s family surrounded him on stage after he formally accepted the Republican nomination during a marathon speech where he recounted the assassination attempt.
Melania Trump came up behind her husband – still with a bandage on his ear – on stage then got a kiss on the cheek at the end of a historic night just days after he was shot at a rally.
The former president’s 92-minute speech started by recounting the moment where he was within a ‘quarter of an inch’ of being killed and reliving the amount of blood that spilled on his face.
But after the sombre opening of his address on ‘unity’, he returned to his trademark attacks on President Joe Biden, old enemies and his border and economic policies.
He joked about the ‘late, great’ Hannibal Lecter when riffing about immigration, said Kim Jong-un missed him and re-upped his promise to end taxes on tips from cheers from the crowd.
Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric, Tiffany and their significant others then came out on stage to cheers from the crowd as balloons fell from the arena’s ceiling and Puccini’s Nessun Dorma played.
The Trump grandkids tossed the red, white, blue and gold balloons around as they bounced on the stage.
But one family member was notably missing: the 6’7′ Barron Trump.
Donald and Melania Trump share a tender moment at the end of his Republican convention speech as his family joined him on stage
Balloons rain down after Donald Trump’s acceptance speech
There was no sign of Barron Trump on Thursday, the last night of the Republican National Convention.
Donald Trump mentioned his youngest son during his remarks but Barron was not seated in the family’s box. He was originally selected as a convention delegate from Florida but Melania’s office later announced Barron would not serve as he had a ‘prior commitment.’
His absence was notable, particularly after he attended one of his father’s campaign rallies earlier this month, where he stood and waved to the crowd.
But Don Jr.’s and Eric’s children were present. Kai Trump, 17, addressed the convention on Wednesday night, paying a sweet tribute to her grandfather.
And Eric’s daughter Carolina, four, stole the show on Thursday when she sat on Donald Trump’s lap while Eric addressed the delegates.
At one point Carolina had her thumb in her mouth as her father spoke. Her older brother Eric Luke, 6, joined in on cheering on their dad as he sat on mom Lara’s lap.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, basked in the adoration of the delegates after he wrapped up his one hour and 32 minute speech.
He started off with a dramatic retelling of the assassination attempt on his life but then rambled, going off the teleprompter, to slam Nancy Pelosi and name-check rival Joe Biden.
The delegates in the hall appeared restless with many taking their seats and taking out their phones. A few fell asleep.
They rallied for the grand finale however, roaring their approval as the Trump family took the stage to wave as balloons rained down around them.
Since the assassination attempt on him on July 13th, Trump has had his family at his side.
Most of them were on hand Thursday night to see him crowned as the Republican presidential nominee.
His children walked onto the convention floor with him.
Later, Melania Trump, in a bright red skirt suit by Dior, made a dramatic entrance, walking into the arena to cheers and the music from Beethoven’s symphony no. 9.
She was introduced to the roaring crowd as the future first lady.
The newly-anointed Republican nominee for president and his wife share a tender moment on stage after his marathon speech
Trump appeared to be shocked when Melania came on stage at the end of his speech
Melania smiles as the Donald leans in to give her a kiss while placing his hand on the lectern
Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump are joined by the rest of the Trump family and Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance
The bandaged Trump watches what the Republicans claimed was one of the biggest balloon drops in history as the convention came to a close
Melania Trump joins Donald Trump on stage after his remarks
Trump and Melania and running mate J.D. Vance and his wife Usha smile at the crowd after his speech
The Trump family on stage together as balloons fall – Barron Trump was notably missing
Melania Trump only joined the convention on its last night, taking her seat in the Trump family box shortly before Donald began his remarks.
Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner also only attended on Thursday night. The couple joined Don Jr. and Tiffany in the family box to sit with their father while Eric Trump addressed the crowd.
The former president was surrounded by his children and grandchildren as he prepared to address the delegates.
His family – except for Barron – was on hand while he spoke.
Melania sat quietly during his speech, listening as he described the assassination attempt that nearly took his life. She smiled when he made little jokes but stared at her husband intently as he recounted the horrific event.
Donald paid tribute to her during his remarks, calling her ‘my amazing wife Melania.’ She stood and waved as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.
‘Melania thank you very much. You also did something very beautiful. A letter to America calling for national unity,’ he said.
He also thanked the rest of his family.
Melania and Ivanka have stayed away from politics since Donald decided to run for a second term.
But both Don Jr. – who addressed the convention on Wednesday – and Eric have been surrogates on the campaign trail. Eric’s wife Lara joined the Republican National Committee to help run the former president’s re-election effort.
The family has gathered around its patriarch since an assassin attempted to kill him on July 13th.
Donald Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance applauds and Melania smiles just as she arrives to take her seat
Trump pumps his fist with his 17-year-old granddaughter Kai in the background
The Trump family, including some of his eleven grandchildren’ swarm the stage to greet the cheering Milwaukee crowd
The traditional balloon dropped ended the convention
Donald Trump after his acceptance speech
The delegates rose to their feet and cheered
Melania Trump, who rarely makes public statements, spoke to the horror when she realized her and son Barron’s life were on the brink of ‘devastating change’ after the hearing the news about her husband’s assassination attempt.
The former first lady called the gunman a ‘monster’ and described the moment she watched the bullet strike her husband’s ear at a Pennsylvania rally in front of thousands of his adoring fans.
‘A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion – his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,’ Melania said in an emotional statement on X on Sunday morning.
‘When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.’
She called for people to ‘reunite’ and said she is thinking of her fellow Americans.
‘This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence,’ her statement continued.
‘The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide – thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.’
Donald Trump surrounded by his wife and children
Former President Donald Trump, Lara Trump, Eric Luke Trump, and Carolina Dorothy Trump watch Eric Trump address the convention
As Usha Chilukuri Vance, Ivanka Trump former first lady Melania Trump and Eric Trump watch, Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, sign paperwork to officially accept the nomination
Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, former White House senior adviser, Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos, attend the final day of the Republican National Convention
Melania Trump makes her dramatic entrance into the convention
After the convention, Trump heads to Detroit for a campaign rally on Saturday.
Ivanka Trump has said she supports her father but won’t formally campaign for him.
It is unclear when or if Melania Trump will appear on the campaign trail.
