Trump, ear bandaged, makes first appearance post assassination bid

Former US President Donald Trump made a defiant return to the public eye at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday, sporting a white bandage on his right ear from a recent assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. He waved enthusiastically to a packed arena and received a standing ovation from supporters, displaying resilience just days after the harrowing incident.

At 78 years old, Trump did not address the convention but basked in the applause and chants of "USA! USA!" as he stood alongside his newly announced running mate, Senator JD Vance.

Surveying the convention floor filled with over 2,400 delegates, Trump took a seat in a VIP box with House Republican Byron Donalds and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Dressed in his signature blue suit and red tie, he smiled and applauded as speakers praised his resilience and leadership following the recent violent incident.

Reflecting on the weekend's events, Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, hailed Trump as "one tough S.O.B.," eliciting a thunderous response from the crowd.

Trump is scheduled to formally accept the Republican nomination on Thursday to challenge President Joe Biden in the November 5 election.

Donald Trump formally secured the Republican presidential nomination on Monday, choosing Ohio Senator and former tech venture capitalist JD Vance as his running mate. The announcement at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee followed a tumultuous weekend marked by a failed assassination attempt on Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.

Trump, sporting a bandaged ear from the attack, received a warm reception from the crowd as he introduced 39-year-old Vance, once a critic turned staunch ally. The convention, attended by 50,000 Republicans, unfolded against a backdrop of legal challenges and renewed confidence in Trump's electoral prospects, contrasting with concerns within the Democratic camp over President Joe Biden's health and polling numbers.

The event also coincided with a legal victory for Trump, as a judge dismissed a national security-related case against him, further buoying his campaign. Meanwhile, Biden, 81, faces internal pressures amid calls questioning his candidacy due to age-related concerns.