Tech journalist Kara Swisher criticized former President Trump’s keynote speech closing out the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, calling it “off the rails.”
Swisher joined a CNN panel Saturday to discuss Trump’s address — his first since a failed assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally a week ago. During his speech, he also formally accepted the GOP nomination for president.
While he began his speech on a restricted tone, calling for “unity,” he quickly fell into old habits by harking on Democrats and breaking his own record for longest acceptance speech in history — hitting the 90-minute mark.
Throughout the convention, various speakers attempted to shine the former president in a new light, including his granddaughter, Kai Trump and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R).
“Until he got up, yeah, it worked,” Swisher said. “So, I thought that the granddaughter was charming, was lovely. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, not so much. She was very good, but they tried to do it and they tried to do it lots of different ways … but some of the speakers seemed off kilter.”
“I would say it worked a little … and then Trump showed up. And [that] was the Trump that we know him as and you’re like ‘Oh that guy’ and I remember, I was watching that speech and he was great … and then it was off the rails,” she added.
During his speech, Trump divulged the details of his near-death experience at a campaign rally outside Pittsburgh last Saturday. During the incident, a bullet grazed his ear and one of his rallygoers was killed.
As the former president addressed thousands in Milwaukee, the crowd was largely silent, hanging onto his words as he outlined the details. They later cheered as Trump, wearing a bandage over his ear, accepted the GOP nomination.
“As you already know, the assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of taking my life. So many people have asked me, ‘What happened? Tell us what happened, please,’” Trump said Thursday night, vowing to never share the story a second time, because it was “too painful” to tell.