Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump gives a speech on July 21, 2016, the last day of the Republican National Convention, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. —
CLEVELAND – As the balloons were released from the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena at the Republican National Convention, red, white and blue confetti began to fall simultaneously, streaming everywhere leaving no space on the floor untouched. Members of the Michigan delegation looked up, eyes locked on the ceiling, soaking in the release that only happens every four years. Some batted the balloons others just smiled through the revelry.
“Just excitement and relief that he’d come so far,” Michigan Senator Joe Hune said was going through his mind as he watched the balloons come down. “Relief but then thinking oh my gosh we’ve got a big fall ahead of us.”
Donald Trump accepted the nomination for the Republican Party on Thursday speaking for more than an hour to a packed house where many jostled for seats or a place to stand to listen and watch the historic speech.
Trump, the outsider as he’s come to be called, rose to the nomination rapidly and surprisingly. Emerging from a field of 17 candidates for the Republican nomination his brash, tough talking and nationalistic spirit lit a fire in much of the American public.
“I was early on the Trump Train before the Michigan primary,” Hune said before Trump spoke on Thursday. “Absolutely thrilled for our party for our platform.”
Trump laid out his vision for the country on Thursday night vowing to put “America first.” He told the nation on Thursday he’d restore law and order following what he saw has growing unrest that has dissolved into unchecked violence.
“Decades of progress made in bringing down crime are now being reversed by this administration’s rollback of criminal enforcement,” Trump said on Thursday.
Republicans gathered on the floor and in the seats were engaged and locked on Trump’s speech, a sight not seen in the three days leading up to the finale. Trump engaged in the crowds chants, leading a few USA chants.
"He’s brought in a lot of new voters to our party,” University of Michigan Board of Regent and delegate, Andrew Richner said. “He’s bringing in voters who might have traditionally voted Democrat so I think we’ve got a shot with him.
"We’ve got a shot with him” seemed to be the flavor of the week for many of the delegates who said Trump was the people’s candidate.
“His message I think resonates with voters in Michigan,” Richner said. “He brought in a record number of voters in the primary, he’s reinvigorated our party and he’s going to shake up Washington.”
Trump went through much of his speech laying out the perceived failures of the Obama Administration and again vowed to be tough and destroy ISIS. He attacked presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for her time as Secretary of State as well saying her legacy is “death, destruction and weakness.”
“The question is how well can we attack Hillary for all the things she’s done,” Michigan RNC chairman Dave Agema said. “I think when the debates start, that’s when the fun is going to happen.”
Part of Trump’s broader vision for the country included as it did in the beginning, securing the borders and winning again on domestic and foreign soil by ensuring American interests were secured before the wants of other nations.“The American People will come first once again,” Trump said. “My plan will begin with safety at home – which means safe neighborhoods, secure borders, and protection from terrorism. There can be no prosperity without law and order. On the economy, I will outline reforms to add millions of new jobs and trillions in new wealth that can be used to rebuild America.”
The crowd gathered was receptive Mr. Trump and cheered the loudest when Trump told the nation he was their voice. He told the audience he’d be tough on bad trade deals and would turn them into good trade deals. He said he would buck current multi-country trade deals in favor negotiating individual deals with individual nations.
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He touched on inner city poverty as well playing on the heart strings when talking about poor inner city kids who deserved better.
“When I am President, I will work to ensure that all of our kids are treated equally, and protected equally,” Trump said. “Every action I take, I will ask myself: does this make life better for young Americans in Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Ferguson who have as much of a right to live out their dreams as any other child America?”
He ended behind the mantra he’d become famous for belting out to the crowd “We will make America great again!”
It left many gathered in the session with a hope for the future.
“I’m excited, I think our country desperately needs to take a turn from where it’s been and I think we’ve seen for the last three days the direction that we can take it,” Michigan Representative Lana Theis said. “I think to tonight’s going to culminate in a much broader vision of where America can go.”
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