During his appearance at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice spoke of his friendship with former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and said the United States would “fall apart” if he was not re-elected in November.
“I want to talk to you tonight about my relationship with President Trump,” Justice said. “I want to talk to you tonight about an incredible man. I want to tell you the truth about him and his family. He’s tough. He’s super smart. He’s a businessman. But maybe you missed something, which is that he really cares. He cares about all of us. Every single one of us. And he loves this nation beyond measure.”
More than 50,000 people were expected to attend the convention, where delegates officially nominated Trump as the Republican candidate against President Joe Biden on Monday. On Monday, Trump announced that his running mate would be U.S. Senator from Ohio, JD Vance, author of the book “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Tuesday was the second night of the four-day convention. The evening’s theme, “Make America Safe Once Again,” included a number of speakers whose speeches often repeated Republican arguments about the U.S.-Mexico border, fentanyl and crime.
Justice, who is running for Senator Joe Manchin’s seat in the U.S. Senate, appeared with his English bulldog, Babydog.
“She makes us smile. She loves everyone,” Justice said. “And how could the message be simpler than that?”
Babydog, apparently speaking through Justice, predicted that Republicans would retain their majority in the House of Representatives, regain control of the Senate and elect Trump and Vance to the White House.
During his seven-minute speech, Justice also told the story of a hunting and fishing trip with Trump’s son Eric Trump, during which the younger Trump changed a flat tire.
“Donald Trump taught his children the very best,” Justice said. “He taught them to respect the military without fail. He taught them to respect our first responders. He taught them to treat our working men and women across this country with love and respect.”
Around 100 West Virginians — including 32 delegates and 29 alternates, were scheduled to travel to the convention. West Virginia First Lady Cathy Justice and a number of Republican officials — including Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, State Auditor JB McCuskey and others — were also scheduled to attend.
Justice’s appearance at the Milwaukee event came a day after he addressed the state of West Virginia at a campaign rally in rural Pennsylvania and commented on the assassination attempt on Trump.
In his speech on Monday, Justice called Trump a “truly personal friend” and said he wanted to see an end to divisive political rhetoric. He said he believes violence and hatred have “increased everywhere” during President Joe Biden’s administration. “From our policymakers’ perspective, we need to tone down the rhetoric,” he said.
