MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin
Thousands of Republicans have gathered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to show their support for former US President Donald Trump as a crucial November election draws closer.
"I'm here to witness Trump's addition to the Republican ticket as the nominee, the official nominee of the Republican Party, which I hope he wins, and I'm pretty sure he's going to win the presidential election come November," Cliff Gephart told Anadolu on Wednesday.
Gephart was among those attending the four-day Republican National Convention (RNC), which started on Monday.
After surviving an assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, Trump made his first public appearance on day one of the RNC with a bandage covering his right ear.
Walking out at the convention venue, where the Republican Party formally nominated him as its candidate for the 2024 presidential election, Trump raised his fist in the air, along with Ohio Senator JD Vance, who he selected as his vice-presidential running mate.
"It was surprising. It was shocking to think that a shooter could get that close to the president, and I think we're all, the world is shocked that the Secret Service allowed that to happen," Gephart said.
The Secret Service is tasked with ensuring the security of presidents and vice presidents, both former and current, as well as presidential nominees during election years.
Gephart said he believes Trump will win the election on Nov. 5.
"I believe it's more so (the case) now since he has been shot because he showed great strength and he showed great confidence…When he came out, he raised his hand and said 'fight.’ I think that did a lot for his image," he added.
- Trump 'right person for job'
Another supporter, David Willoughby, said he was at the convention to show his "support for the soon-to-be president, Donald Trump."
About the assassination attempt, Willoughby said it was an "absolute utter collapse of security."
"I think someone should be held accountable. People definitely need to be held accountable. There's absolutely no reason why that should have happened.
"There’s no way somebody should have been 140 yards away from the president with a rifle. So heads need to roll, someone needs to be fired," he added.
Willoughby said he plans to vote for Trump, listing strong law enforcement, border security and lower taxes as reasons.
"I'm definitely voting for Trump, and the people are ready for him," he added.
Suzan Bien said she is also in Milwaukee to support Trump.
"But just here to back President Trump, because he needs to take over the United States and to bring power to and to bring strength to the United States again, to make it safe."
Bien said she felt sad for the US when Trump got shot.
"We're very vulnerable because of (President) Joe Biden, and we need to fire Joe Biden. That's just the bottom line. We need to get rid of Joe Biden.
"I believe wholeheartedly in Trump...He's strong. He is a crusader, and I think that as the days go on, I think that more and more people are seeing that our country needs Trump, and that he is the right person for the job. He has proven before that he was the right person for the job, and he is going to be our 47," she added, referring to the 47th president.
Another supporter, Francois De Monique, said he was pleased with Trump's decision to select Vance as his vice-presidential running mate.
"I think it was a good choice. I think he has a good chance of winning this election," he said.
Turning to the assassination attempt, he said it was a "terrible thing.”
"We are a great country where that should never, ever happen, and hopefully that's the last time such a thing will happen in this country," he said.
Stressing that Trump has a "good chance" of winning the presidency, De Monique added that his popularity is "very high right now."
With Biden – who is under pressure from fellow Democrats to drop his re-election campaign -- testing positive for COVID-19, all attention is focused on Trump's address to the convention on Thursday.
