Former president Donald Trump makes first public appearance at RNC in Milwaukee since assassination attempt

Former president Donald Trump made his first appearance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Monday night, just two days after an assassination attempt.

This was Trump's first public appearance since a bullet grazed his ear when a 20-year-old sniper opened fire at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania Saturday.

Trump — with a bandaged ear — arrived at Fiserv Forum Monday night around 9 p.m. He walked onto the arena floor as country artist Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the USA," television broadcasts showed.

Trump's vice presidential running mate, J.D. Vance, and Trump's family walked in ahead of him and headed up to an elevated box, according to videos WISN shared to X. As Trump made his way to join his crew, he waved and shook the hands of attendees.

After the musical performance concluded, Trump — who appeared to be holding back tears — was met with a roar of applause and chants of "USA!," "fight!" — what he said moments after being shot at Saturday — and "we love Trump."

Trump responded by appearing to say "Thank you" to the crowd.

Trump is not expected to speak at the convention Monday night, ABC News reported. But, he is expected to address delegates on Thursday evening, the last day of the convention, according to USA TODAY.

According to the New York Post, Trump's brush with death changed his mind about the speech he'll give Thursday to accept his party’s nomination.

“I had all prepared an extremely tough speech, really good, all about the corrupt, horrible administration,” Trump told the Post. “But I threw it away.”

A new speech was in the works because he wants to try to unite the country, though he doesn't know if that's possible, the Post report said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: See Donald Trump at Milwaukee RNC days after assassination attempt