Inside Trump’s alternative reality: behind the scenes at the RNC | Anywhere but Washington

Less than a week after a failed assassination attempt, Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination in Milwaukee.
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But supposed nods to national unity gave way to partisan falsehoods, as the former president was anointed at a moment of national crisis. Oliver Laughland and Tom Silverstone go behind the scenes at the RNC
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#trump #donaldtrump #politics #usa #uselection #rnc

[@Fredric_Cedrich]

Yeah saying “I’m not gonna answer that” is giving us the answer we need

[@edmusto9622]

'Trump poetry' is something you would see in north korea

[@L_Train]

So is forcing children to stand every day and pledge their allegiance to the their country and flag...oh wait, that's America

[@NOVERMOUTHTODAY]

Or on a bookshelf in the home of Ed Gaines

[@tudormiller887]

Yep! But America is still a western democracy. Unlike in France where they blocked Marine Le Pen from becoming president. 🇫🇷

[@GG.Sanchoo]

DPRK isn’t as delusional

[@Jo-yp8wy]

Vogon poetry = trump poetry?

[@nigelbenn4642]

Speaks VOLUMES when they ask who you're with first before even answering any questions.

[@nanucit]

This is not politics, this is a circus 😅

[@Birdlab]

America is a circus.

[@thecoin5394]

Thr UK is a circus 😅 London-ISTAN is a circus 😅

[@luvlabso130]

And Bidens open borders? Ukraine war we fund ?

[@organizedchaos4559]

not anymore the dnc will be in a month

[@daswienerle3018]

​@@thecoin5394just wondering, have you ever been outside of the us?

[@O.G.MISFIT]

This is where education, information and brains go to die 🤘

[@AttackOnSociety]

Riiiight. Look in the mirror, how many boosters did you get?

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

I think you mean the Democratic Convention?

[@christophermurphy4511]

@@AttackOnSociety ?

[@ManVsBisaya]

At The Guardian?

[@nighthawkcof]

I feel sorry for the poor reporter. That much insanity in one place 😂

[@annahereford3029]

5:04 the lady who cant even speak to an opposing journalist. Just so crazy, they wont even deal with people who disagree.

[@wholeshebang1]

That ain't no *_lady._* 🤣

[@FGP_Pro]

"You're not going to pigeonhole me into saying what I really believe."

[@redlightmax]

0:33 "We're a unified Republican Party." Counterpoint - absent from the 2024 Republican National Convention: - former Vice President Mike Pence - former President George W. Bush - former Vice President Dick Cheney - former nominee for President Mitt Romney - former House Speaker Paul Ryan - former House Speaker John Boehner.

[@lefb6301]

Why are so many unhinged people in politics?

[@johnsmith-jq1uc]

because there are unhinged people in the world

[@GaryS-gi9fk]

Because they no longer control anything.

[@mrwoodandmrtin]

Because they make interesting TV. The quiet guy in the back don't sell advertising space. Sampling error.

[@AaronOkeanos]

1) Perception is everything in politics 2) Truth has left the building

[@C.u.d.s]

Unhinged media -> unhinged electorate -> unhinged politicians Tbf, the politicians are largely acting unhinged to gain power.

[@edmusto9622]

These people are completely insane

[@GaryStahlet]

Go get another 5 boosters

[@chunkylover48]

@@GaryStahlet Nice example of the insanity there.

[@GaryStahlet]

@chunkylover48 who's insane?

[@gavintoole9325]

@@GaryStahletI think you know the answer deep down

[@GaryStahlet]

@@gavintoole9325 yeah you.

[@Beetwate305]

When they say “Many people are saying” they’re lying!

[@Mechanical-Animal]

Is that poet guy trolling? 😂😂

[@the_grand_tourer]

A grifting carpet bagging snake oil salesmen … interestingly all America terms, a bit like Eskimos and snow I guess.

[@christopherm6725]

He’s making money… I feel like he is trolling lol

[@RebekahCurielAlessi]

I wondered.

[@kareno8873]

I’m sure hoping so

[@BenInSeattle]

"Many people are saying so..."

[@juffjaff]

Bonkers. They're all bonkers.

[@Vroomfondle1066]

Welcome to America...

[@martthesling]

Was defunding the police bonkers?

[@Vroomfondle1066]

@@martthesling You tell me - who's interests do the police represent?

[@adamblack267]

​@@Vroomfondle1066 the power elites interests

[@tsubadaikhan6332]

@@martthesling The USA has more Incarcerated People than any other Country on the Planet, at the highest Rate on the Planet. Has Funding all those Police and Prisons made the USA the Safest Country on the Planet yet?

[@richardb1949]

Is this the time where the sane understand that is a grift .

[@0nFoot]

It's a litmus test for the US. Are there more voters with brains or without.

[@Icetubexd]

That time was 2016

[@Farzocalypse21]

This is so sad. So many of these people he's speaking to seem so vulnerable.

[@christophermurphy4511]

That's why they're there.

[@tulsacaupain2882]

Not the kind of people he likes

[@christophermurphy4511]

@@tulsacaupain2882 Totalky the type of people he likes and depends upon for his devoted base.

[@jasonj5243]

The guy selling the trump poetry has got to be trolling those idiots while fleecing them at the same time.

[@MushramboMu]

Some trump fans: " We are against dividing people " Some trump fans: " You from guardian,,, goodbye "

[@snakemongoosepanther]

Grateful for the Guardian's excellent journalism, as usual. America is a scary place.

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

I think you mean 'scary place' due to their FAR-LEFT politics?

[@TheSkyHive]

Thank you for all the work you do! It is sorely needed here in the US!

[@mrhat50]

Well, Putin is happy I guess.

[@joanne4758]

Not just Putin - Trump will be quite happy to do away with old allies and form new ones. Rgds NZ

[@GaryStahlet]

​@joanne4758 Lol. If you did any research, you would understand that putin didn't steal any land.

[@TomAZ1984]

Why? Seems like he got away with the most during Obama’s and Biden’s presidencies.

[@mrhat50]

@@GaryStahlet Ukraine 🇺🇦 is independent from Russia. They broke up from the Soviet Union!!!

[@mrhat50]

@@GaryStahlet We have a Duganist over here.

[@ccutehoney]

So they are supporting a man who has never done anything for the general public to serve the general public 😂😂😂

[@angel_of_rust]

bro was literally president in 2016-2020 and pretty much everything was affordable for Americans during that time, compared to the presidents both BEFORE and AFTER him. tf you mean he didn't do anything for the general public? unless you're a paid democrat shill

[@desertels5119]

RIP Samuel Sharp Jr. Thank you for including the segment about it in the video

[@kb4903]

So glad we don’t cheer politicians like idols here in the UK. What idiots put bandages in their ears?

[@davistafulaninsimba8697]

Your idols are the Royal family !

[@lynn3888.]

​@@davistafulaninsimba8697 they're really not

[@kb4903]

They are not at all.

[@kb4903]

@@davistafulaninsimba8697 maybe for some people but they aren’t dangerous and don’t have power over people.

[@BookOfVampires]

@@kb4903or maybe we shouldn’t be quick to make generalizations

[@JoePlatt1]

There's about three braincells between all of them

[@RankinMsP]

Generous

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

And the left have brain cells? Really?

[@Millsiac]

Thank you for this reporting. Extremely tragic that these people have been so deluded

[@Thrill_Hou]

This is literally the plot for Idocracy but in real life.

[@L_Train]

Not literally. It is however, slightly ironic that you would misuse that word from your high horse(that's a figurative horse not literal) in a comment which infers that you are smarter than the dumb people around you. Aside from that, I agree with you,

[@chunkylover48]

@@L_Train Weird comment, but ok.

[@erincarr9411]

​@L_Train who's horse is high?

[@christophermurphy4511]

@@L_Train Ok, I'll hear you out. How does the differ from the plot of Idiocracy? Thank you for taking the time to back up your own words.

[@widebleek8138]

Democracy hangs in the balance.

[@burninggiraffe6615]

Such a weird ‘democracy’

[@pynn1000]

I liked the idea "Beautiful Poetry of Donald Trump" collected by the author, using Trump's own words, being sold at his conventions. I also want to learn more about "Vladimir Putin: Life Coach" and "Choose Your Own Apocalypse" with Kim Jong-Un and Friends by the same author. Thanks, Rob Sears. (I see the older books are now available 2nd hand!)

[@davidwebster4457]

The crowd of people fighting for Samuel Sharp were dealing with real politics, real issues that really mattered. They were standing up for one of their own- a homeless man too! It warms my heart. The RNC is participating in a giant game, a perverse sort of ceremonial circus.

[@mattinterweb]

The hypocrisy of some of these people. They either have zero emotional intelligence or they're delusional. What's so troubling about these times, is in years gone by, people who disagreed with each other from both ends of the political spectrum were prepared to speak & debate with one and other. Not now, which is very dangerous.

[@bryanotieno7106]

Hallucinatory

[@robertlloyd122]

That guy selling a book of Trump poetry is brilliant.

[@AaronOkeanos]

Reminds me of something from China: Xi written a book about his mental ramblings called "Xi's Thoughts" and dictatorial and narcissistic as he is he made it mandatory literature in media and education.

[@the_grand_tourer]

A circus of grifting carpet bagging snake oil salesmen … interestingly all America terms, a bit like Eskimos and snow I guess.

[@erincarr9411]

I'm guessing it's his tweets

[@robertlloyd122]

@@erincarr9411 That's what I figured, yes - BRILLIANT.

[@jps0117]

I lived in Wisconsin for 12+ years and was given a "cheesehead" on my birthday.

[@GaryS-gi9fk]

That's lovely!

[@ShakesSphere]

You went into the devil's den!!! 😮 A complex stench of lies, hypocrisies, and violently inclined EVIL.

[@alexcaloca6566]

God! Roger Stone is SOOO FUCKING weird and creepy.

[@mdixon4212]

He has a NIXON tattoo. So freakin' weird

[@martogambir]

At least the reporter's last name is Laughland

[@dianewhalen9721]

Stone ,looks like the Penguin in Batman!

[@christopherm6725]

My goodness, they are distorting reality so badly. It’s beyond crazy.

[@jeremymahrer1832]

KARI LAKE WOULD OF ONLY SAID " YOU NEED HEAD EXAMINED" ANY IRONY THERE ?

[@spaulwade1]

Many people in China say Mao was the best poet of his generation.

[@1kewlglamma]

DT knows nothing about faith and devotion...

[@stella-gx8ne]

Roger Stoned keeps pushing those dentures further and further back

[@USAFreedom4Ever]

I feel sorry for Britain and what you guys are going through right now. Hopefully you can keep your freedom of speech.

[@Steven-vo4ee]

*Trump is not a conservative*

[@bailey27727]

Nice sanitorium interview, Sir. I applaud you for making through it 😂

[@eighty6films]

At least you’re paid to be there

[@tinay9491]

alternate reality? Actually dangerous,vile and destructive w/ wannabe dictator. Disgusting

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

I think you should have a SANITY check. You sound very deluded.

[@christophermurphy4511]

@@JfK--OBJECTivE How do you rationalize "alternative facts"? Just curious.

[@KaleighMacKay]

They tried to jail him? Yeah…. That’s what your country does to lawfully convicted criminals?

[@navarajshahi9631]

How fragile is democracy one clown can manipulate and tear it apart so easily. When you have few sheep behind you no matter what.

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

I assume you are referring to Joe Biden?

[@ccutehoney]

@@JfK--OBJECTivEhe’s not even running for president 😂

[@christophermurphy4511]

@@JfK--OBJECTivE Translation: "Try to change the narrative by using the ol' switcheroo tactic." I am sure that no one will notice.

[@nhjhbmkuy7173]

@@JfK--OBJECTivEtrump hasn’t conceding that he lost 2020?

[@louie510]

The RNC circus was in town.

[@Steven-vo4ee]

GQP

[@harmoneggsarmandlegs481]

These people are nuts

[@emilydavison2053]

Wow. Makes British politics look mature.

[@niklastorshagen6365]

"It's a close system" That was an understatement

[@jb-eq6no]

wait is the trump poetry tweets? Thats actually very funny

[@orangewarm1]

What did you expect.? you dont go in there and say you're from the Guardian; you go in undercover.

[@niklastorshagen6365]

The worlds biggest cult

[@Trund27]

Cultists.

[@timothyw98]

Who gave Donald Trump power the sith. He's like piles he keeps coming back even stronger.

[@BeakFoundry]

There is a 0% chance that the guy talking at 06:45 was at the shooting

[@DirtiestDeeds]

This aged well.

[@jeffandersen7397]

as the video played I searched "Great Modern American Poets" online.....not one mention of Tr*mp

[@Bronzoone]

Whats the thing about this cheese hats?

[@redlightmax]

1:44 Wisconsin produces about a quarter of America's cheese.

[@the_grand_tourer]

@@redlightmax Well, you call it cheese.

[@robertstraw9881]

When are these journalists going to stop trying to use facts and logic with these people? They just shut down and go into victim mode immediately.

[@McFish-ts5jj]

Funny to hear that from BLM

[@owen_mania]

@@McFish-ts5jjWhose BLM?

[@christophermurphy4511]

@@McFish-ts5jj How do you know that Robert Straw is BLM?

[@Becky_Cal]

From a sane, balanced and rational native Californian to the world….I’m sorry. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@RebekahCurielAlessi]

Hello to another Rebecca (Rebekah) in California (San Francisco)!! 👋

[@jeanclaudejunior]

That National Committee is just weird. Just like Tim Walz said

[@RebekahCurielAlessi]

The Trump poet seemed kinda cool... 🖼

[@rorygee482]

What a bunch of cheesy helmets.

[@pifflepockle]

Cheesy bunnets

[@mickconners9377]

It’s like Woodstock, everyone was there

[@PhillCurtis]

Thanks for showing this

[@snuffsonic23]

10:24 hes so tired 🥲 great piece ty

[@perlaarrebatada9726]

Too much ignorance gathered....

[@danny2518]

Anyone who is far-left considers everyone else "FAR-RIGHT"

[@OptimisticHominid]

Anyone who is a centrist considers the far-right, far-right too!

[@alinim1116]

I wonder if Kari Lake evaded the interview attempt before or after she met Emily maitlis?

[@alsayedfakhri4597]

Donald Trump poetry... The dumb leading the blind.

[@the_grand_tourer]

A circus of grifting carpet bagging snake oil salesmen … interestingly all America terms, a bit like Eskimos and snow I guess.

[@willli8163]

Trumps wearing his diaper on his head

[@TheSpyder699]

They take their character from hunger game 🎮 ;)

[@n.b.1483]

3 Weeks later and everything has changed. For the better. In fact, no one ever references the assassination attempt. It’s forgotten now, how fast things change.

[@marvingresham1344]

Those are a bunch of wheels

[@badboydrd]

No matter what happens, we really should be concerned with how many ppl are this deep in this delusion.

[@tammystratford7079]

Someone in the RNC hired that young man to shoot, knowing he was a bad shot. And, they killed that kid so he can't talk.

[@markmoran916]

Imagine spending your life banging on about being tough on crime and big on law and order while simultaneously supporting a convicted felon 🙄

[@AttackOnSociety]

Imagine thinking that New York isn't a corrupt democrat cesspool.

[@SheilaKodi]

@@AttackOnSocietywtf is wrong with you

[@joeshoe6184]

These clips are a study in the effectiveness of propaganda on simple minded people, particularly when supercharged by social medis.

[@kareno8873]

Wasn’t Reagan’s attempted assassination also on live TV?

[@teostarmer3478]

It’s starting to happen in this country too. The truth has been sullied beyond repair .

[@gwdubs]

The Guardian doing what it does best...create dissent.

[@dwa1422]

PRETTY CLOSED setup - not an open transparent arrangement, but then look at their cult leader

[@ah-64apache84]

Thank you. This is the type of journalism the world needs right now! Too many news outlets fall for the "you cant say that were lying, because then you are biased and not credible"-argument and just stop doing their job.

[@danielleS257]

Yeah, they aren’t WEIRD. 🙄

[@ghostworld89]

4:30 Funny most of you forget this part 😂

[@francesrice3317]

Thank you for this report. I really appreciated it!

[@jorgecruz1235]

Swamp people

[@Humanghosts]

“First time an attempt wasn’t successful” Should probably brush up on your history

[@amalgamated-]

It’s a sea of wyt people 😂😂😂

[@kareno8873]

Kari Lake reminds me of my boomer mother when she was younger and at the top of her malignant narcissist game

[@KingKong-ov8qo]

Guardian should try to go to the DNC and pretend to be a trump supporter and ask about left and Harris, and see if they are going to answer "I'm not gonna answer that" or full of swearing and yelling? cmon

[@anthonyjackson7210]

Crazy

[@daveprosser941]

SO Robotic

[@powderandpaint14]

Why do they have cheese on their heads?!

[@pynn1000]

Big cheese producing state.

[@tmny4425]

Grinder's Superbowl!!!