Melania's words set the tone for the Republican convention. Her distinction between Trump the "political machine" and Trump the human being framed the week's proceedings. For the past nine years, America and the world have become well acquainted with the machine: Trump's strong rhetoric, his mean tweets, his combativeness, his insults and sarcasm. The convention showcased, in the aftermath of the assassination attempt, a new dimension to Trump's personality: his friendliness, paternal manner, emotion, vulnerability.
I wasn't the only person who noticed that, as he sat watching speeches from the presidential box, Trump seemed calmer, more serene than ever before. His expression embodied what we kept hearing from the rostrum. Political figures such as Nikki Haley, Kellyanne Conway, and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R., Ark.) described Donald Trump behind the scenes. They mentioned his kindness, generosity, and grit. ...
Not only was Trump different this week. The Republican Party was too.
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