Will the GOP's push for unity endure?
New York Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, Michael Lawler and Anthony D'Esposito on the floor of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Center in Milwaukee Monday. Credit: Newsday/William Perlman
A new passion has engulfed the thousands of Republicans here in Milwaukee for their nominating convention, a fire lit by the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. They’re angry and more determined to put Trump back in the White House every day, and the sound of that energy is building into a roar.
There’s lots of talk of unity and trying to enlarge the party’s tent. That’s a message Lee Zeldin, the Long Islander most visible here, noted could appeal beyond the GOP, to undecideds and those not planning to vote.
In that vein, New York’s delegates have emphasized a renewed effort to swing the state toward Trump, propelled by recent red waves on Long Island and further fueled by Saturday’s tragedy. The spotlight on unity helps New York, they say, especially once Trump takes the stage Thursday night.
“It’s going to be the kind of acceptance speech, with a united party behind him, that I see as an historic speech for the nation,” New York GOP state chair Ed Cox said. “We’re going in a new direction.”
That message has reverberated throughout the convention. And Trump’s refrain “Fight!” has become a rallying cry. Queens Republican chairman Tony Nunziato likened the GOP reaction to pent-up emotion that “burst.”
“There are no more second thoughts, no more holding back,” Nunziato said.
But there’s also a contradictory undercurrent to the unity appeal. Some Republican leaders continue to blame Democrats — and President Joe Biden — for rhetoric they say led to Saturday’s shooting, without mentioning vitriolic words that have come from Trump and others. Verbal attacks Trump has endured are highlighted without mention of ones the candidate has masterminded. And the anti-Biden sentiment continued to simmer.
“Joe Biden is asleep at the wheel and we’re headed over a cliff,” South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott said. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson called Democratic policies a “clear and present danger.”
Goya chief executive Bob Unanue referred to Kamala Harris as Que Mala — How Bad. And in a taped video message, Trump talked about the Democrats’ effort to “cheat.”
Others, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, emphasized policies that are anything but unifying, including her trademark inflammation of culture wars on gender. Zeldin picked up that issue Tuesday, hosting a private New York GOP reception featuring athletes Riley Gaines and Enes Kanter Freedom, who have criticized transgender athletes in women’s sports. But
Zeldin tried to fit even that “controversial” issue in the “unity” framework.
“The pursuit of unity as a country should not be a silencing of people’s voices, of people’s opinions,” Zeldin said.
Overall, Republicans are trying to distance themselves from more extreme policies, like those outlined in Project 2025, the oft-cited Heritage Foundation document. But that polemic was featured at a daylong Heritage “policy fest” just steps from the convention center, with attention to how Trump would make it happen.
Which is the real Republican Party — the one emphasizing togetherness, or the one celebrating division and discord?
That remains to be seen. It’s up to Trump and his party to decide whether this new unity will hold, or whether they fall back to a familiar, more hostile tone.
Could the pulsing energy encourage so-called Never Trumpers to vote for Trump? Giving former presidential candidate Nikki Haley a speaking spot signals the GOP is going to try.
It’s a new playbook for a party that often has succeeded because of divisions, not in spite of them. For now, Republicans are acting like they’re ready to unify and broaden their tent.
It’s still unclear what the next act will bring.
Columnist Randi F. Marshall's opinions are her own.
Randi Marshall is a member of the Newsday editorial board.
