President Trump accepts presidential nomination

By Vatican News

Speaking from the South Lawn of the White House on the final day of the Republican party convention, the current U.S. president told his audience, "This election will decide whether we save the American dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny."

He continued, “This election will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans, or whether we give free rein to violent anarchic agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens.”

During the hour long speech, Trump criticized his political opponent, Democratic candidate Joe Biden saying “If given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness.”

America and race

The president’s speech comes at a time of racial tensions in the United States, and amid a fresh wave of protests over the latest high-profile police shooting in Wisconsin of a Black American who was left paralyzed. Relative calm returned to Kenosha after days of civil unrest.

Alluding to the recent civil strife, Mr Trump said “Americans watching this address tonight have seen the recent images of violence in our streets and the chaos in our communities.” He then pledged to end the turmoil.

He accused Democrats at their convention last week of disparaging America as a place of racial, social and economic injustice.

"So tonight," he said, “I ask you a very simple question - how can the Democrat party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country?”

Coronavirus

The president’s re-election campaign comes amid a health crisis that has claimed the lives of 180,000 Americans. Many people have also lost their jobs as the pandemic continues to take its toll on the country.

Addressing this issue, Trump promised, in his second term, to levy tariffs on any company that left America to create jobs overseas. He also promised to rebuild the economy and criticized Joe Biden for saying he would shut down the country if necessary to slow the spread of the disease.

Other speakers on the final day of the convention included the president’s daughter Ivanka.

With just weeks to go until America decides, this campaign is now entering its final stage with both candidates expected to travel to several battleground states in order to convince voters that they are