Emotional Donald Trump accepts the Republican nomination for president and describes the assassination attempt in harrowing detail in historic convention speech

Days after an assassin's bullet sliced through his ear, Donald Trump delivered a message of strength and confidence as he accepted the nomination to be the Republican candidate in November's election.

'The discord and division in our society must be healed. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together. Or we fall apart,' he said.

'I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America.'

His family, aides and lawmakers say he is a changed man after surviving the attack last weekend.

And his voice cracked with emotion as the thanked the nation for its support.

'Let me begin this evening by expressing my gratitude to the American people for your outpouring of love and support following the assassination attempt at my rally on Saturday,' he said.

'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, and therefore, I'll tell you what happened, and you'll never hear it from me a second time, because it’s too painful to tell.'

But the evening was still very much a red-blooded Trump occasion, lest anyone believed this could still be Mitt Romney's staid Republican Party of 2012. 

Hulk Hogan ripped off his shirt, three speakers praised the former president's golfing prowess, and Kid Rock added a chant of 'fight, fight' and a line about 'No Show Joe;' to his classic hit 'American Bad Ass.'

Once again it provided a stunning split screen view of American politics. 

As the 78-year-old former president basked in the adoration of his supporters, his 81-year-old rival Joe Biden was holed up at his Delaware beach home with COVID-19, fighting for his political life as his party tries to move on and find a better candidate for the election.

Once again, Trump holds the Republican Party in the palm of his hand. 

Yet that was far from certain when he announced in 2022 that he was running for the White House again. 

He had lost the 2020 election and alienated allies by his desperate attempt to hang on to power.

Days before he launched his election campaign the Republican Party's 'red wave' had evaporated in the midterms. Strategists blamed the disappointing results on Trump's hardline policies and role in overturning constitutional protections on abortion rights.

Four sets of criminal charges followed and a conviction in New York court.

Yet his grip on his party is now stronger than Biden's. And the shooting on Saturday helped bring in even doubters like Nikki Haley, who had called him 'unhinged' during their bitter primary contest.

John Fredericks, radio host and Trump confidant, said the party was changing in the wake of the assassination attempt just as its leader had changed.

'You can't go through a near-death experience, survive death by a millimeter by turning your head by the hand of God and not change your perspective on a lot of different things,' he said. 

In two weeks, he said, the 'lock him up' chants and calls for retribution would be history.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said it was never in doubt. 

'He's a strong leader at a dangerous time for the country and we need that kind of leadership,' he said, as he patrolled the floor of the convention, stopping for selfies. 'I think that's what's energized everyone. 

'After the assassination attempt the emotion behind him and the support is even stronger.'

Thursday was president's day. Trump's fingerprints were all over the program, with three employees and a son on the schedule.

The speakers described as 'everyday Americans' included his West Palm Beach golf club chief pro John Nieporte, who praised his 'perfect swing.'

His lawyer Alina Habba had a slot ('one heck of a golf swing), had a speaking slot as did his one of his closest friends Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul.