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U.S. will be 㽶Ƶֱrespected again㽶Ƶֱ: Trump in first speech since shooting

Former president said America has been taken advantage of by other countries
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Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump stands on stage with former first lady Melania Trump, family members and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance, during the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum, Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Donald Trump recounted the terrifying moment he realized he was struck by a bullet in his first public speech since an attempted assassination, telling party faithful at the Republican National Convention that his resolve has never been stronger.

㽶ƵֱI said to myself, 㽶ƵֱWow, what was that? It can only be a bullet,㽶Ƶֱ㽶Ƶֱ Trump said as Republicans cheered and wiped tears from their eyes during the former president㽶Ƶֱs closing speech at the four-day convention in Milwaukee Thursday.

Some world leaders have expressed concern over the looming possibility Trump will return to the White House, as President Joe Biden stepped back from campaigning after testing positive for COVID-19 this week at a critical time for the Democrats.

Speculation about Biden㽶Ƶֱs future and mental acuity have been swirling following a disastrous debate performance against Trump last month and multiple missteps at the NATO leaders㽶Ƶֱ summit in Washington last week.

Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont., said Trump can be erratic, and global leaders are worried they can㽶Ƶֱt rely on stability from the U.S.

Trump said America has been taken advantage of by other countries. He said some call themselves allies and pointed to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was forced into renegotiation during the first Trump administration. The outcome of that negotiation, called the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, is up for review in 2026.

Ahead of Trump㽶Ƶֱs speech, Canada㽶Ƶֱs ambassador to the United States was urging Canadians to talk to Americans about the countries㽶Ƶֱ important relationship.

㽶ƵֱIf you are at the lake this summer with some American neighbours, just take a moment to remind yourselves and themselves how lucky we are to have each other as neighbours,㽶Ƶֱ said Kirsten Hillman, who was attending the convention.

㽶ƵֱAnd how much prosperity and security we get out of it.㽶Ƶֱ

Trump has mused about higher duties on foreign goods, suggesting a blanket 10 per cent tariff on nearly all imports.

In an interview, Hillman said the United States is a 㽶Ƶֱnoisy ecosystem,㽶Ƶֱ and it takes a lot of work to ensure information about the Canadian relationship gets through.

Hillman said she has met with senators, representatives in Congress and members of Trump㽶Ƶֱs previous administration at the convention.

㽶ƵֱFundamentally, Americans who are elected to represent their people want to make sure that they are prosperous, that they are safe, that they have a future, that their children have a future 㽶Ƶֱ and their relationship with Canada is a real contributor to those goals.㽶Ƶֱ

Trump, with a white bandage on his right ear, formally accepted the Republican presidential nomination as he stood on a stage in front of a mock-up of the White House.

He took a more introspective tone, reflecting on the moment he almost lost his life at the rally in Pennsylvania Saturday. He also rallied supporters against Democrats, saying they㽶Ƶֱve been conducting partisan witch hunts and denouncing the current administration㽶Ƶֱs record.

Republican Ed Schlesser said he feels like Trump has shown a more tempered side to his leadership since the shooting.

㽶ƵֱHe really wants to do it for the whole United States and the world,㽶Ƶֱ said Schlesser, wearing a red Trump shirt.

Following the shooting, the former president called for unity. Lebo said any sense of oneness across party lines quickly disappeared from convention speakers㽶Ƶֱ talking points as the rhetoric became increasingly adversarial.

㽶ƵֱThat㽶Ƶֱs not Donald Trump. That㽶Ƶֱs not the party platform. That㽶Ƶֱs not the party right now,㽶Ƶֱ he said of the conciliatory tone.

Trump called the U.S. a nation in decline, pointing to illegal immigration and foreign policy under the Democrats.

㽶ƵֱUnder our leadership, the United States will be respected again,㽶Ƶֱ Trump told the crowd to cheers.

Trump㽶Ƶֱs comments likely did little to quell global concerns about America㽶Ƶֱs role in the world, which were already heightened by Trump㽶Ƶֱs choice for running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

Vance will just 㽶Ƶֱtoot Trump㽶Ƶֱs horn,㽶Ƶֱ Lebo said.

The vice-presidential nominee has been a vocal opponent of U.S. military aid to Ukraine as it fends off Russia㽶Ƶֱs invasion. In addition, Trump has repeatedly said he would not defend NATO members that don㽶Ƶֱt meet defence spending targets.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to meet NATO㽶Ƶֱs target, the equivalent of two per cent of gross domestic product, by 2032. But he has been criticized for the lengthy timeline and the lack of detail on how Ottawa will make it happen.

Several premiers have urged Canada to meet the NATO spending target, stressing a need to preserve bilateral relations.

㽶ƵֱFor Canada and its relationship with the United States 㽶Ƶֱ we are significant trading partners 㽶Ƶֱ we want them to respect us fully, in all aspects, including our ability to honour obligations,㽶Ƶֱ said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston at the Council of the Federation meeting this week in Halifax.

Vince, who did not want to give his last name, travelled from Illinois to the convention to show his support for the Republican leader. He thinks Trump recognizes the special relationship with Canada.

㽶ƵֱWe are neighbours,㽶Ƶֱ Vince said.

㽶ƵֱYou wouldn㽶Ƶֱt know if there wasn㽶Ƶֱt borders, you would never know what side of the border you㽶Ƶֱre on. We㽶Ƶֱre all the same.㽶Ƶֱ

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