Republicans focus on economy, warning against a Biden presidency
The second night of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday concluded with a keynote speech by First Lady Melania Trump, who offered an emphatic bookend regarding the coronavirus, an issue that was otherwise understated throughout the evening.
"I want you to know, you are not alone," she said, addressing those suffering amid the "terrible pandemic."
However, the speech from the Rose Garden of the White House drew criticism over the use of federal property for a partisan political act.
Her address came after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech from Jerusalem, while on an official trip abroad, though the message was described as being in his personal capacity. Lawmakers have opened a probe into his speech, alleging legal violations.
The convention repeatedly aimed to focus on the economy, an area which has long been a relative strong point for President Donald Trump, 74, during his nearly four years in the White House.
However, the pandemic has brought about a recession and double digit unemployment, leaving the Republicans with the task of using their convention - largely without a crowd because of the virus - to convince people only Trump can salvage the economy.
Democrats last week at their convention had repeatedly slammed Trump over his handling of the pandemic and painted him as someone too inept and corrupt to bring about a recovery.
The US has seen more than 177,000 deaths, the worst toll for any country and one of the worst globally on a per capita basis. Rolling spreads of the virus have hampered economic reopenings, which Democrats say is because the White House bungled the response.
The counter-message, with Trump trailing in the polls, was one of optimism that sought to sidestep the current malaise and look to a future without health concerns.
"Our economic choice is very clear. Do you want economic health, prosperity and optimism, or do you want to turn back to the dark days of stagnation, recession and pessimism," said Larry Kudlow, the economic adviser to Trump.
A speaker after Kudlow accused Biden of being a "puppet of radical left Democrats," as part of a narrative to paint Biden, 77, as an irresponsible socialist bent on heavy taxation, though he has always voted as a moderate during his decades in the Senate.
Eric Trump, the president's son, went in to bat against the Democratic nominee, warning he would be a "total pushover for communist China" and a "giant relief" for terrorists. He claimed Biden would foster illegal immigration and lose control over the border.
Other speakers attacked the Democrats over their pro-choice position on abortion and claimed the centre-left bloc was anti-religion.
Cissie Graham Lynch, the granddaughter of famed evangelist Christian preacher Billy Graham, accused the Democrats of wanting a country that "leaves no room for people of faith."
Unlike the pandemic, which at one point was spoken about in the past tense, the party acknowledged racial divides and injustices, but attacked the Democrats for being focused on identity politics at the expense of freedom of speech.
Like the first night, the Republicans highlighted their African Americans supporters and capitalized on a comment from Biden earlier this year, in which he indicated he believed anyone from the community who voted for Trump was not truly black.
"I am not in chains. My mind is my own and you can’t tell me how to vote because of the colour of my skin," said Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican and the first African-American to hold his post.
Likewise, the Republican sought to brighten up their image on immigration, putting a focus on their support for legal immigration of highly-skilled people.
Trump spent his first campaign, in 2016, and much of his time in the White House since, pledging a border wall, attacking certain migrants from Latin America and the Middle East, and tightening up rules on citizenship, limiting inflows.
A video played showing Trump presiding over a naturalization ceremony of five new citizens - from various parts of the world - declaring it is "an honour to be your president."
China featured heavily throughout the night, though less with regards to the pandemic - Trump often blames Beijing for the coronavirus- and more on trade and employment.
The Republicans repeatedly warned a Biden presidency would see jobs move offshore, hailing Trump's trade policy on China and denouncing liberal approaches to global commerce of previous administrations.
Trump's key acceptance speech will take place on Thursday, the final night of the convention.
