Well, no-one could accuse Donald Trump of pinching his speech from an Obama. Over an hour-and-a-quarter on Thursday night he set out a dark vision of a crime-ridden America crumbling from neglect, and where decent people live in fear of immigrants and corrupt politicians. And he accepted the Republican nomination in much the same way that he won it, with anger and contempt for his opponents. Above all it was a speech based on fear. It offered Trump as the saviour, the one man who could save the country.
These were the main takeaways:
1. Trump is angry. He dialled it all up to ten in the first few minutes and then kept it there. Love him or hate him, Trump’s speeches are often funny, irreverent and entertaining. This was nothing of the sort. Has there ever been an acceptance speech without a joke? This was layer upon layer of vitriol.
Freddy Gray and Scott McConnell discuss the American tragedy with Isabel Hardman:
2.
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