First lady Melania Trump delivered a very personal account of life in the White House, as the first family took the lead during the second night of the Republican convention, presenting a president they said was always fighting for America’s forgotten people.
The president’s son Eric and his daughter, Tiffany, were among the speakers who said that only another four years of President Trump could rebuild an economy ravaged by the coronavirus.
Strategists from both sides of the political spectrum said the result was an effective night, shoring up support and delivering a closing moment that could help woo back critical female voters.
The first lady’s speech was laden with empathy for an audience worrying about the coronavirus or that might be struggling with the country’s opioid epidemic. But she said the reason she was appearing in the White House Rose Garden was because her husband was the best choice for America.
“Total honesty is what we as citizens deserve from our president. Whether you like it or not, you always know what he’s thinking,” she said. “And that is because he’s an authentic person who loves this country and its people and wants to continue to make it better.”
Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican strategist in Texas, said the speech was the one that should immediately be spun out into adverts and Facebook posts.
“I think her tone, the issues she talked about, lined up well — talking about drug abuse. Those are issues I’ve been encouraging candidates to talk about,” he said.
“It was a heartfelt speech that will appeal to the married women with children, who are the ones the GOP has been losing.”
The convention comes at a time when the president is struggling with the fallout from a global pandemic that has wiped out his best asset — a booming economy. National polls suggest he is lagging behind Democratic nominee Joe Biden by up to 10 points, much of it down to a growing gender gap as women turn away from Trump.
Although the first lady closed proceedings close to home, the night featured a diverse range of voices from multiple locations.
In Jerusalem, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised Trump’s foreign policy, while White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the president was the only person capable of restoring the coronavirus-hit economy.
And again, the evening included a slew of ordinary voices: A police officer praising the president’s effort to tackle the opioid crisis; a Maine fisherman; a dairy farmer who talked about trade deals; and a small-town mayor from Minnesota who said America First policies were putting residents back to work.
For a second night, groundbreaking figures such as Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, the first Latina to hold that office in her state, and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the first African American to hold statewide office in Kentucky, had prominent roles.
But it was the first family whose voices were loudest, reintroducing the president as a champion for the underdog.
Tiffany Trump, his daughter with second wife Marla Maples, said: “My father does not run away from challenges, even in the face of outright hatred, because fighting for America is something he will sacrifice anything for.
“He dreams big dreams for our country, and he is relentless at achieving them.”
And Eric Trump, Don Jr.’s younger brother, picked up the argument and turned it into a battle cry against opponents.
“I am proud to show my children what their grandfather is fighting for,” he said.
“I am proud to watch you give them hell.”
“Never stop. Continue to be unapologetic. Keep fighting for what is right.”
The result was an evening, in part, dedicated to turning Trump’s brash, belligerent manner into a positive.
Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic strategist, said the Trump family and their patriotism were the glue that held Tuesday’s programming together, but it brought with it an exclusive vision, of being with them or against them.
“The Trump family loves America, and America should understand how much they do so. That’s the theme here. And anyone who doesn’t think we do should be punished,” he said.
“For the Republican electorate and for potential undecided voters in marginal states, this may have had some value.”
