Last night, former President Donald J. Trump took the stage to close the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis. It was his first public address since surviving an assassination attempt last Saturday, and the crowd greeted him with a standing ovation.
“As you already know, the assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life,” Mr. Trump said, recounting a moment he described as “too painful to tell.”
“There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way, I felt very safe because I had God on my side. I thank him,” he said, later adding, “I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of God.”
In the aftermath of the attack, some of the former president’s supporters have asked: Did God save Donald Trump?
I have a different question: Did Mr. Trump find God? And is it too late?
While at times the former president seemed like a new candidate last night, when he broke from his prepared speech, Mr. Trump made it known he still believes he was cheated out of the presidency in 2020. Further, during a speech that set a record for its length, he continued to blame undocumented immigrants for the economic struggles faced by many Americans today. He went so far as to promise the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, which would tear families—and, I believe, the nation—apart.
From the beginning of his first presidential campaign, Mr. Trump has seemed to draw out the worst in both his supporters and his adversaries. In 2015, for example, he defended violence at one of his rallies, where a protester was kicked and punched by other attendees, and in 2016 seemed to encourage it by encouraging supporters to “knock the crap” out of any protesters.
But on the other hand, who could forget the statues of a naked Mr. Trump stationed by anti-Trump activists in cities across the United States in 2016? Some celebrities have edged closer to calling for violence against Mr. Trump, with Kathy Griffin portraying his decapitation, Snoop Dogg pointing a gun at a Trump stand-in in a 2017 video, and George Lopez offering a bounty for Mr. Trump’s head.
While in the White House, Mr. Trump became our divider-in-chief, taking to social media to air his grievances about things like N.F.L. players kneeling during the national anthem and to insult his political rivals and critics, using names like Elizabeth “Pocahontas” Warren, “Crooked Joe” Biden and countless others. Whether or not they were motivated by partisanship, his two impeachments also testify to how Mr. Trump divided our politics. And those examples pale in comparison with Mr. Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which disrupted the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
As the speech began last night, Mr. Trump spoke softly and came across as humbled. He called attention to David Dutch and James Copenhaver, two men injured during the assassination attempt. Mr. Trump paused for a brief moment of silence to honor Corey Comperatore, a firefighter who attended the rally last Saturday and was killed while protecting his family. Mr. Trump kissed Mr. Comperatore’s firefighter’s helmet, which was displayed on the stage along with his jacket.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others,” Mr. Trump said. “This is the spirit that forged America in her darkest hours, and this is the love that will lead America back to the summit of human achievement and greatness.”
To chants of “We love you Trump,” Mr. Trump responded: “Love. It’s about love.”
Surely, Mr. Trump has never mentioned the words “love” or “God” more in any previous speech—certainly not in either of his previous acceptance speeches.
“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,” he said. “We have to make the most of every day for the people and country we love.”
The speech, at least as it began and ended, stands in stark relief with his 2016 acceptance in particular, when he declared, “Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it.” Last night, he said: “This movement has never been about me; it has always been about you. It has always been about the hardworking, patriotic citizens of America.”
Mr. Trump argued that success will bring the country together, and the Republican Party did its best at the convention to pitch their candidate as the one that can unite the country.
“This election should be about the issues facing our country and how to make America successful, safe, free and great again,” Mr. Trump said. “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.”
Well, it certainly sounded good. But, policy differences notwithstanding, can this person unite America?
The last week, no doubt, has been traumatizing for our nation. As one of our major parties’ candidates faces ongoing calls to step down, the other survived an assassination attempt. The shocking images and videos of the shooting are seared into our national consciousness. July 13 has become a mythical day for Mr. Trump’s supporters and has captured global attention. (The Washington Examiner shared a video of children in Uganda re-enacting the shooting.)
The moment I keep coming back to is when Mr. Trump jerked back his right hand on the stage in Pennsylvania and felt his ear. Then he held his bloody fingers before his eyes. Was that the beginning of something?
To be clear, this is not about whether Mr. Trump gets my vote. Still, I believe God forgives us and calls us to forgive others—including our political leaders. I don’t believe we can overcome the polarization that divides us and find communion without first learning to forgive each other. The cynicism with which Mr. Trump’s detractors view the former president and his supporters remains a great obstacle.
Like any other human being, Mr. Trump can be redeemed. Coming face to face with his own mortality might just be the beginning of his conversion. I pray that it not only softens his heart but also the hearts of the millions who support him—and the millions who don’t.
