Delegates at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are strapping home-made bandages to their ears, in the latest sign of devotion to former president Donald Trump.
Trump, 78, was seen walking into the RNC on Monday with a bandage over his ear, just two days after he was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
And in a sign of nearly-feverish support for Trump, Republican delegates were seen sporting their own bandages, which they either made and brought in, or had handed to them as they walked around the Fiserv Forum in the heart of Wisconsin’s largest city.
Texas delegate Jackson Carpenter told the Washington Post that he put the bandage on after learning another person was handing them out at the conference.
He was keen on the bandage as a symbol, as ‘we need a symbol about political violence not being acceptable in America.’
Zachary Landsdowne, a Washington state delegate, meanwhile said he brought one he made at home with Band-Aids, but no one took notice until he swapped them out for white paper.
‘I saw one guy with an entire napkin against the side of his head, but it didn’t look like a bandage,’ he added with a laugh.
The RNC, which is wrapping up today, saw the vast majority of delegates throw their weight behind Donald Trump to become the next official Republican candidate for the 2024 election.
They joined the regular conference attendees, who had done themselves up in high MAGA fashion for the event.
There were sequins, glitter, stars, stripes, elephants and a whole lot of red, white and blue in downtown Milwaukee as attendees hopscotched to a series of events throughout the Fiserv Forum.
On Monday, some state delegations wore matching themed outfits as the nominated Trump for a second term in the White House. Other delegations opted for a mix of their best America-loving attire.
If not decked out from head-to-toe, some people still managed to get into the mood with different accessories, hats and other inspired looks.
Delegate Sylvia Spivey and her husband Randy were decked out in Texas inspired gear. Apart from their hats, Sylvia had on a cowboys shoe decorated shirt while Randy sported a Houston Astros shirt.
The pair had swapped out their cowboy boots due to all the walking, but Sylvia also had an elephant bag, Trump earrings and a belt buckle commemorating the convention, which was designed for the delegation.
‘To see Trump come in last night was amazing,’ Sylvia Spivey said. For both her and Randy, the most important issue for them is securing the border.
Albert Herrera and his son Yosef Herrera, who runs the National High School Republican Federation, were both at the convention in their cowboy hats which they decorated with pins featuring the yellow rose of Texas.
They also had on their lone star shirts which the entire delegations plans to wear this week.
The Herraras had a special four-legged friend with them as well. Albert’s service dog Tzeitel was also sporting her Texas apparel including a red cowboy hat, bedazzled booties, and a Texas state flag on her harness.
Sara Brady from Idaho is wearing one every day of the Republican National Convention and might be the most formally dressed attendee on the convention floor.
On Monday, she had on a Trump themed red, white and blue dress with an image of the ex-president after he raised his fist following the assassination attempt in Butler, PA.
The dress she was wearing on Tuesday was a yellow ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ gown. She claimed she made the dress as a celebration dress after charges against her were dropped after she brought her kids to a playground during COVID and was arrested.
She said she has an ‘Appeal to Heaven’ themed dress for Wednesday before she brings back the Trump dress for Thursday night when the former president gives his speech.
While the RNC has been a celebration of the GOP, police officers were forced to shoot a knife-wielding man to death less than a mile away from where it is being held.
Five officers patrolling on bicycles reportedly opened fire after the man turned to them with the blade.
It came hours before Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance were due to hear speeches by Republican luminaries at the convention arena.
Police from Columbus, Ohio, were involved in the shooting. The officers were on assignment in Milwaukee to help with the beefed-up security for the event after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump on Saturday.
The shooting happened outside the perimeter policed by the Secret Service.
Initial reports suggested the dead man was homeless, had been involved in a fight with another homeless man, and was a user of crack cocaine.
Witnesses said the man was known by the nickname ‘Jehovah’.