Donald Trump's 'Rambling' Speech Gives Democrats Hope Again

Donald Trump formally accepted the 2024 Republican presidential nomination with a rambling speech lasting over 90 minutes, and it has given hope to some key Democratic Party figures.

The former president's address on Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee was the longest delivered under such circumstances in modern history. And it came in for fierce criticism online for its length and meandering nature, with a number of prominent Democrats saying it could revitalize their party after a disastrous past few weeks.

Speaking on CNN David Axelrod, formerly the chief strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaigns, commented: "This is the first good thing that's happened to Democrats in the last three weeks. This really reminded everyone why Donald Trump is fundamentally unpopular outside this room."

The Democrats have been under intense pressure since the first presidential debate between Joe Biden and Trump on June 27, during which the president at several points appeared to lose his train of thought while speaking.

In response a string of influential people in the president's own party, including lawmakers and actor George Clooney, have called for Biden to drop out of the race. And on Saturday, when Trump was lightly injured in an assassination bid, one political scientist told Newsweek the shooting could "swing the election firmly to the Republicans."

During Trump's address the Republican nominee described Biden as "the worst president in history" before stating: "America's future will be bigger, better, bolder, brighter, happier, stronger, freer, greater and more united than ever before. Quite simply put, we will very quickly make America great again."

However at times Trump appeared to go wildly off topic, such as his description of a fictional serial killer as "the late great Hannibal Lector," and, according to an NBC News reporter, a number of those in the audience ended up falling asleep.

Reacting to Trump's address on X, formerly Twitter, California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom simply posted: "Boring. Rambling. Liar. We will beat him."

Boring. Rambling. Liar.

We will beat him.

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 19, 2024

New York Times columnist Ezra Klein said: "Tonight's speech is going to harden Democrats' spines. The best argument against the party replacing Biden was fatalism: if you'll lose anyway, may as well lose conventionally.

"But no Democrat watching that speech thought Trump unbeatable. It was an antidote to fatalism."

Rick Wilson, co-founder of anti-Trump conservative group The Lincoln Project, commented: "Trump's speech was, objectively, the single worst convention acceptance speech in modern history.

"It was a ramblef*** disaster from start to its long-delayed finish, and nothing is going to make it better. You know. I know it. LaCivita and Wiles know it. Utter disaster."

Donald Trump speaks after accepting the Republican presidential nomination on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The former president's 90-minute address was the first good thing to happen to Democrats in three weeks, said David Axelrod....

The speech was initially praised on X by polling guru Nate Silver who wrote: "It's a weird but pretty good speech. The past few weeks have gone about as badly as possible for Democrats, and they're likely underdogs against Trump regardless of who they nominate, but the opportunity to reset the campaign with a non-Biden nominee is a twist of good fortune."

However as Trump's address went on Silver performed a sharp U-turn, commenting: "

Fully RETRACT and RESCIND, sometimes it seems like both parties are trying to throw this election."

Professor Robert E. Kelly, a politics expert based out of Pusan National University in South Korea, posted: "The media owes Biden a huge apology after that disaster.

The media owes Biden a huge apology after that disaster

Can we now have 3 weeks of intense speculation on Trump's mental health, plus endless calls for him to quit? Biden is literally owed that by any standard of fair play or equal treatment

— Robert E Kelly (@Robert_E_Kelly) July 19, 2024

"Can we now have 3 weeks of intense speculation on Trump's mental health, plus endless calls for him to quit? Biden is literally owed that by any standard of fair play or equal treatment."

Newsweek contacted the 2024 Republican and Democratic presidential campaigns for comment via email on Friday outside of usual office hours.

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