Trump accepts GOP nomination on last night of RNC, blasts Joe Biden in lengthy speech

Washington — President Trump formally accepted the Republican nomination for president on Thursday, closing out the final night of the Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House, where hundreds of people were seated closely together with few wearing face masks in the midst of a pandemic that has claimed more than 180,000 American lives.Using the White House as a backdrop for a political event like no president has before, Mr. Trump said he was "brimming with confidence in the bright future we will build for America over the next four years," while warning that Joe Biden would enact a liberal Democratic agenda if elected."This election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life, or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it," the president said.Earlier speakers, as well as the president, focused heavily on unrest that has broken out in American cities in recent months, painting a dark picture of criminals running rampant in the streets while sidestepping the underlying racial injustices that sparked mass protests in the first place.Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, said that voting for Biden and other Democrats "creates the risk that you will bring this lawlessness to your city, to your town, to your suburb." Patrick Lynch, the head of the New York's largest police union, said "Democratic politicians have surrendered our streets and institutions." House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Democrats want to "dismantle our institutions, defund our police and destroy our economy.""There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America," Mr. Trump himself said later. The address was written primarily by White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, according to Trump officials involved in the process.The president said he stands "before you tonight honored by your support, proud of the extraordinary progress we have made over the last four incredible years and brimming with confidence in the bright future we will build for America over the next four years."Mr. Trump, like his daughter Ivanka, began his address by noting the Americans impacted by Hurricane Laura and said he will be visiting those impacted this weekend.Speaking before a crowd of more than 1,800 supporters who gathered on the South Lawn, the president attempted to paint a portrait of a stark choice between himself and Biden. "As long as I am president, I will defend the absolute right of every American citizen to live in security, dignity and peace," he said.Mr. Trump attempted to paint a grim landscape of the country if Biden wins in November and claimed that if he loses reelection and Democrats win control of both chambers of Congress, "they will apply their disastrous policies to every city, town and suburb in America."Tying in the theme of the Republican National Convention, "Honoring the Great American Story," Mr. Trump said that in November, voters "must turn the page forever on this failed political class" and with him in office for a second term "write the next chapter of the great American story."The president then laid out the broad contours of his second-term agenda, which includes expanding Opportunity Zones, shifting medical supply chains back to the U.S. and slashing taxes and regulations. "The president will continue to support you every step of the way."Trump, a senior adviser at the White House, reminisced about introducing her father four years ago at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, and said on the final night of the gathering now four years later — where she again is introducing him before he delivers a speech accepting the GOP presidential nomination — "I stand before you as the proud daughter of the people's president."The president's oldest child, Ivanka Trump sought to paint for the American people a picture of the president behind-closed-doors and said while his rhetoric is harsh, Mr. Trump arrived in Washington with the singular focus of making America great again."My father has strong convictions. She served nearly 22 years in prison before Mr. Trump commuted her sentence.Rudy Giuliani, Mr. Trump's personal attorney, lamented the recent uptick in crime in New York City, where he served as mayor, and urged voters not to "let Democrats do to America what they have done to New York" — echoing a common argument from Mr. Trump about the unrest in major U.S. cities.Giuliani attacked Biden, casting him as a candidate who lacks principles and as a "Trojan horse" for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.Referring to the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May, Giuliani said that as calls for police reform grew louder from Democrats and Republicans alike, the possibility of unity "was very dangerous to the left.""They had a president to beat and a country to destroy, and although an agreement on action against police brutality would be very valuable for the country, it would also make President Trump appear to be an effective leader. "There is no question that this awesome job of restoring safety for our people cannot be done from your basement, Joe. There's also no question that President Trump will fight with all his strength to preserve the American system of government and our way of life."Giuliani said the November election, and a victory for Mr. Trump, will give the president a mandate to crack down on the unrest in Democratic-led cities."President Trump, with his boundless love of our country and all our people, his disciplined work ethic, his exceptional ability to inspire and his deep understanding of our system of government and the strength of American values is the man we can trust to preserve and even improve our way of life," he said.Ja'Ron Smith, deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the Office of American Innovation, shared his story of how he turned his life around, worked hard in school, and eventually went on to work for the president of the United States. McConnell suggested Democrats want to control every aspect of Americans' lives, including "how many hamburgers you can eat."Carson opened by extending his condolences to the family of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man who was shot by a police officer in Kenosha on Sunday, as well as others "who've been impacted by the tragic events in Kenosha." He urged Americans to "come together in love of our fellow citizens.""History reminds us that necessary change comes through hope and love, not senseless and destructive violence," Carson said.In turning to the reelection of Mr. Trump, Carson said the president "believes in the people" and "is one of us.""We have a choice," the HUD secretary said. "Do we want big government that controls our lives from cradle to grave or do we believe in the power and wisdom of the people and their ability to self-govern with help from a limited federal government?"Carson highlighted Mr. Trump's support of historically Black colleges and universities, as well as the Trump administration's work on criminal justice reform, adding that he is the "most pro-life president in our country's history."Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, tried to make the case that Joe Biden would make America "weak," and argued that America standing alone is not a bad thing.