CLEVELAND, July 22: Donald Trump today promised jittery Americans of restoring law and order amid deadly shooting incidents, stop illegal immigration and bring back jobs as he vowed to “put America first” to garner support in the epic race to the White House after accepting the Republican ticket.
Painting a bleak picture of the state of affairs in the US and the world under Democrats – President Barack Obama and his former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, the 70-year-old real estate tycoon said he would “Make America great again”.
He also vowed to defeat ISIS and reiterated his resolve to build “a great wall” along the Mexico border, seeking immediate suspension of immigration from countries that have compromised on terrorism.
While accepting the nomination “humbly and gratefully” here, Trump toned down his previous proposal of a complete ban on entry of Muslims in the country even as he promised to defeat ISIS and Islamic terrorism.
Trump said his plan will put America First. Americanism, not globalism, will be his credo.
“As long as we are led by politicians who will not put America First, then we can be assured that other nations will not treat America with respect that we deserve,” he said amid thunderous applause.
“In this race for the White House, I am the law and order candidate,” he said as he accused Obama of sowing disunity along racial lines.
“The irresponsible rhetoric of our president, who has used the pulpit of the presidency to divide us by race and colour, has made America a more dangerous environment for everyone.
The “crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon, and I mean very soon, come to an end,” he said. “Beginning on January 20, of 2017, safety will be restored.”
Trump also painted his rival from the Democratic camp Clinton as incompetent. “This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction, terrorism and weakness.”
He said if elected as the US President in the November elections, he will put in place an immigration system “that works, but one that works for the American people”.
“Tonight, I want every American whose demands for immigration security have been denied – and every politician who has denied them – to listen very closely to the words I am about to say. On January 21st of 2017, the day after I take the oath of office, Americans will finally wake up in a country where the laws of the US are enforced. We are going to be considerate and compassionate to everyone.
“But my greatest compassion will be for our own struggling citizens. My plan is the exact opposite of the radical and dangerous immigration policy of Hillary Clinton. Americans want relief from uncontrolled immigration. Communities want relief,” he added.
His speech that lasted for over an hour also witnessed interruption when a woman waving a banner started yelling more than 20 minutes into Trump’s remarks following which he paused for nearly a minute while waiting for police to remove her.
“Illegal border crossings will go down. Peace will be restored. By enforcing the rules for the millions who overstay their visas, our laws will finally receive the respect they deserve. We must immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place,” he said.
“We don’t want them in our country,” the New York billionaire said to huge cheers and applause in his speech during his party’s ongoing National Convention amid chants of “U-S-A” and “Trump, Trump, Trump”.
Trump had earlier called for a complete ban on Muslims immigrants, which had drawn widespread global condemnation.
He said to make life safe in America, they must also address the growing threats the country faces from outside.
“America: we are going to defeat the barbarians of ISIS. Once again, France is the victim of brutal Islamic terrorism.
“Men, women and children viciously mowed down. Lives ruined. Families ripped apart. A nation in mourning. The damage and devastation that can be inflicted by Islamic radicals has been over and over – at the World Trade Centre, at an office party in San Bernardino, at the Boston Marathon, and a military recruiting centre in Chattanooga, Tennessee,” he said.
To protect the US from terrorism, he proposed a three pronged strategy.
“We must have the best intelligence gathering operation in the world. We must abandon the failed policy of nation building and regime change that Hillary Clinton pushed in Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Syria,” he said.
Instead, the US must work with its allies who share the goal of destroying ISIS and stamping out Islamic terror.
“This includes working with our greatest ally in the region, the State of Israel. Lastly, we must immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place,” he said.
Trump said anyone who endorses violence, hatred or oppression is not welcome in the US and never will be.
Terming an attack on law enforcement as an attack on all Americans, Trump said: “This Administration has failed America’s inner cities. It’s failed them on education. It’s failed them on jobs. It’s failed them on crime. It’s failed them in every way and on every level.
“When I am President, I will work to ensure that all of our kids are treated equally, and protected equally.”
He used his major primetime address as the opportunity to call for protecting the “LGBTQ community”, elevating the issue to a Republican nomination address for the first time.
Trump said he recently pointed out that NATO was obsolete, because it did not properly cover terror, and also, that many of its members were not paying their fair share.
“As usual, the United States has been picking up the cost. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that NATO will be setting up a new programme in order to combat terrorism – a true step in the right direction,” he said.
Asserting that it is time for “straightforward assessment of the state of the nation”, the Republican presidential nominee said, “I will present the facts plainly and honestly. We cannot afford to be so politically correct anymore.”
“So if you want to hear the corporate spin, the carefully-crafted lies, and the media myths the Democrats are holding their convention next week,” Trump said.
“But here, at our convention, there will be no lies. We will honour the American people with the truth, and nothing else,” he said in his speech, which was interrupted briefly by protesters.
Trump said nearly four in ten African-American children are living in poverty, while 58 per cent of African American youth are not employed. Household incomes are down more than USD 4,000 since the year 2000.
“Our manufacturing trade deficit has reached an all-time high – nearly USD 800 billion in a single year. The budget is no better. President Obama has doubled our national debt to more than USD 19 trillion, and growing,” he said.
Trump said not only have Americans citizens endured domestic disaster but they have lived through one international humiliation after another.
“We all remember the images of our sailors being forced to their knees by their Iranian captors at gunpoint. This was just prior to the signing of the Iran deal, which gave back to Iran USD 150 billion and gave us nothing — it will go down in history as one of the worst deals ever made,” he said.
“Another humiliation came when president Obama drew a red line in Syria — and the whole world knew it meant nothing,” he said.
Trump said his plan will put America First. Americanism, not globalism, will be his credo.
“America is a nation of believers, dreamers and strivers that is being led by a group of censors, critics, and cynics. Remember: all of the people telling you that you can’t have the country you want, are the same people telling you that I wouldn’t be standing here tonight,” Trump said.
“No longer can we rely on those elites in media, and politics, who will say anything to keep a rigged system in place. Instead, we must choose to believe in America. History is watching us now. It’s waiting to see if we will rise to the occasion, and if we will show the whole world that America is still free and independent and strong,” Trump said.
“I am your voice. I know the time for action has come,” he asserted. (PTI)
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