Former President Donald Trump is set to accept the Republican nomination for president for the third time on Thursday, with near unity in his party and a strong lead over incumbent Joe Biden.
Thursday night's speech will be significantly different from those he gave in 2016 and 2020. It will be his first major public comments since surviving an assassination attempt.
Trump has said he changed his speech after the attempted assassination, which could mean a softer tone.
Here's what to look out for when the former president talks about his future.
Just as he did in his 2020 reelection bid, Trump will enter the final battle with Biden with a strong base of support — his core supporters remain as strong as ever.
But Trump still has the challenge of appealing to independents, moderate Republicans and others who have not yet decided who their presidential candidate is.
So far, Trump has placed a heavy emphasis on his base, even as he appeals to black and Latino voters. Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina has launched a $14 million effort to get black voters in battleground states to vote for Trump. Many Republicans are hoping Trump will adjust his messaging to reach suburban voters, especially women, who could be the deciding factor in the outcome of elections in key battleground states.
Nikki Haley, a former U.N. ambassador and 2024 presidential candidate, spoke at the convention and endorsed Trump, which could be an avenue for her supporters to vote for him, though Trump will likely have to work harder to get them to his rallies on Election Day.
Trump has spoken enthusiastically about what he wants to do in a second term, but much of it has been about retaliation.
Trump reportedly wants to take control of the supposedly independent US Department of Justice, meaning he would be in charge of decisions such as who to prosecute.
Trump has pledged to carry out the largest deportation drive in U.S. history and reinstate some of the previous border security policies. An aggressive trade war with China and a renewed focus on reshaping the U.S. role in NATO and defending our allies could also resurface if he returns to power.
The policies Trump outlines in his speech will determine how he appeals to voters outside his populist base.
Trump was visibly moved as he entered the convention on Monday to a hero's welcome.
Many speakers at the convention implied that the assassination attempt on the former president was emblematic of Trump's rise to a second term, with Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying he was a blessing in disguise from divine intervention.
“God saved President Trump from his assassins because God is not done with him yet,” she said.
Known for his tough-guy persona, Trump rarely gets emotional during speeches.
The assassination attempt might change his style, perhaps for a moment producing a softer tone.
Trump will likely take the opposite approach, as evidenced by him rising from the ground after being shot, pumping his fist and urging the crowd to “fight.”
Warrior Trump is expected to feature for most of the speech.
