During four days at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Republican convention turned into a genuine MAGA celebration. The Make America Great Again movement has become virtually synonymous with the Republican Party, a force Donald Trump has shaped, dominated, and fully claimed as his own.
Trump’s acceptance speech on Thursday, sealing his nomination for the November presidential race, concluded a gathering that carried an almost mystical aura after the Saturday attempt on his life and, in parallel, the Democratic Party crisis. The address offers important clues about the evolution and the immediate and long-term future of the party and the Trumpism movement.
Trump’s Party
In 2016 Trump secured the nomination after fierce internal battles and with the party machinery openly opposing him. After his term and after efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 victory and the assault on the Capitol, dissent within the party persisted but has faded, with critics among delegates preferring to speak anonymously for fear of political exile.
Milwaukee showcased moments of voluntary unity, sometimes compelled by necessity for survival in politics, best illustrated by Nikki Haley’s keynote. Her primaries posed the most significant challenge and she challenged the conventional wisdom about the U.S. and global policy implications of isolationism.
The Creed
A nationalist, worker-focused populism forms the ideological and political backbone of the party. The core banner of “America First” has taken root as the guiding principle, and positions once seen as Democrat territory, such as critiques of corporate greed or Wall Street, have become common currency on the Milwaukee stage.
The most prominent proponent of the new Trumpist Republicanism has been J. D. Vance, chosen as Trump’s running mate. Yet one of the most notable moments of the convention came when Teamsters leader Sean O’Brien spoke on Monday.
Unity and Organization
Trump and his movement once signified chaos, but today they symbolize a disciplined, well-organized force in both posture and policy. Milwaukee was deliberated to deliver a message of unity for the party and the country, and during the prime-time speeches broadcast nationwide, that message was unmistakable.
Trump himself, however, tripped over his own rhetoric by returning to a confrontational tone, presenting himself as a national unity figure while still delivering divisive rhetoric that unsettles swing voters and independents.
Cult and Dynasty
Across the arena, images of Trump dominated the scene, with campaign items and MAGA branding at the center, creating a feeling of a genuine political cult surrounding the candidate.
Over the four days, three of the four days featured remarks by a Trump family member. Lara Trump spoke at length, as did Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., each increasingly taking on substantive political roles. The presence of Kai Madison, the 17-year-old granddaughter, signaled a humanizing, dynastic edge to the movement.
Notably absent were Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump, who did attend only on the final day, and Barron did not appear.
Future
With Vance as the vice-presidential pick, an ideological ally aged 39, Trump, at 78, gains a key asset to appeal to voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and among younger generations, while signaling a successor-in-waiting.
Milwaukee also served to elevate other rising figures within the Trumpist circle, including journalist Tucker Carlson and Representative Matt Gaetz. Few speeches elicited more energy and favorable reception than Vivek Ramaswamy’s, who spoke directly to Generation Z.
The convention featured a notable presence of Black and Hispanic speakers, underscoring a deliberate effort to broaden appeal beyond traditional Republican baselines.
The Radical Agenda
Looking toward November, the party’s platform avoided explicit stances on hot-button issues like gun rights or abortion in the draft hours, emphasizing distance from Project 2025, the Democrats’ stated shadow program for a potential second term.
Several of the party’s more divisive proposals also remained off the televised docket but were part of the four-day discourse, including sharp rhetoric on immigration and criticisms of Democrats over the economy, governance, climate policy, and debates on gender, race, and identity that opponents label as woke culture.
There was lively commentary on the 2020 results and alleged political use of the Justice Department to pursue Trump and allies. One of the convention’s loudest ovations went to former advisor Pete Navarro, who arrived in Milwaukee directly from a legal proceeding related to contempt of Congress.
Citations: coverage for context and perspectives from independent reporters.