What will be the most noteworthy trends at the 2024 Republican National Convention?
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RNC: It’s all about the merchandise
One of the most popular shirts, featuring a now-iconic photo of Trump bleeding from his ear, was sold across the U.S. almost immediately after Saturday’s assassination attempt.
It took several days for the same shirts to arrive at the Republican National Convention, but when the $50 shirts finally appeared on the streets outside the convention site on Wednesday, they quickly sold out, Nexstar Media reported.
He raised his fist.
The recent assassination attempt in Pennsylvania has brought a new dynamic to the Republican National Convention.
Many supporters and delegates in the audience continued to raise their fists throughout the speech, in a gesture of defiance similar to the way Trump did before he was escorted offstage by Secret Service on Saturday. Raising one’s fist onstage has become similarly prevalent among speakers.
Bandaged Ear
At the Republican National Convention, many wore red “Make America Great Again” hats, including several with makeshift ear bandages — the latest accessory some are using to show loyalty to former President Donald Trump, who was shot in his right ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Joe Neglia, a 63-year-old delegate from Tempe, said the prop he was wearing on his right ear was a nod to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. In an interview with CBS News, Neglia called it “the latest fashion trend,” adding that he made the fake bandage on the bus heading to the second day of the convention.
For Trump supporters, the assassination attempt appears to have taken center stage at the Republican National Convention, at least in terms of fashion and iconography. The epic moment reverberated around the convention floor and, for all we know, may have similar resonance for the rest of the campaign season.
Melissa Cruz is an election reporting fellow working on voter access issues for the USA TODAY Network. Contact her at mcruz@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @MelissaWrites22.
