Audience Erupts As Trump Emerges At RNC, Ear Bandaged: ‘Fight! Fight! Fight!’

Former President Donald Trump made an entrance at the Republican National Convention on Monday, sporting a white bandage over his right ear, and the crowd immediately erupted in chants of “USA!” and “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Trump’s arrival at the convention followed just a few hours after he announced that he had chosen Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) to be his running mate going into November’s presidential election — and just over 48 hours after a would-be assassin opened fire on his Pennsylvania rally, killing firefighter Corey Comperatore in addition to wounding Trump and two others.

The former president, as he typically does at rallies, made his entrance as Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the USA.” Cheers and applause, along with a few stray voices shouting, “Fight!” erupted from the crowd as he walked in, a white bandage covering his right ear.

“President Donald J. Trump enters the RNC less than 72 hours after surviving an assassination attempt. This is so awesome. Absolute boss,” Greg Price posted on X, sharing video of the former president’s entrance.

WATCH:

President Donald J. Trump enters the RNC less than 72 hours after surviving an assassination attempt.

This is so awesome.

Absolute boss. 🇺🇸🔥 pic.twitter.com/VI9wXVCLC9

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 16, 2024

As soon as the song came to an end, Greenwood introduced Trump and saluted him — and the crowd immediately began to chant “USA! USA! USA!” Trump joined them, and then as the next speaker was introduced, some in the audience began to chant “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

POWERFUL MOMENT: President Trump enters the room, and the crowd lights up with chants of FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT and USA, USA, USA.

Watch our continuing coverage of the RNC here: https://t.co/aKHMbwrcJ7… pic.twitter.com/CIQkbsRfs5

— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) July 16, 2024

Monday marks Trump’s first major public appearance since the assassination attempt, and the chants were a reference to his own initial reaction to being shot: within moments of the Secret Service tackling him to the ground. Trump had fought his way to his feet and raised his fist in the air, shouting, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”