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Trump accepts Republican Party’s presidential nomination

CLEVELAND — Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party’s presidential nomination Thursday, and quickly declared himself the law-and-order candidate.

Noting recent terrorist attacks and police officer slayings, he said he wants to destroy terrorism, fight domestic crime and protect U.S. borders.

The billionaire businessman secured the Republican nod after voters throughout the U.S. rejected traditional candidates and picked a real estate mogul who has never held elected office before.

“Together, we will lead our party back to the White House and we will lead our country back to safety, prosperity and peace,” Trump said in the convention arena. “In this race for the White House, I am the law-and-order candidate.”

“We will be a country of generosity and warmth but we will also be a country of law and order.”

Pointing to terrorism abroad and attacks at home on police officers in Texas and Louisiana, Trump cast himself as the candidate who can keep the nation secure at home and abroad.

“An attack on law enforcement is an attack on all Americans,” Trump said.

“There can be no prosperity without law and order.”

He said the U.S. would stand with its “greatest ally in the region, the state of Israel” and pledged to fight terrorists.

“We are going to defeat the barbarians of ISIS,” he said, referring to the Islamic militant organization.

Trump cast a wide net, also touching on immigration.

“We must immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place,” he said.

He added: “We don’t want them in our country.”

Trump’s speech brought frequent and boisterous applause as delegates roared their approval. He repeated his promise to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, saying it’s needed.

“We are going to build a great border wall to stop illegal immigration, to stop the gangs and the violence, and to stop the drugs from pouring into our communities,” he said.

His speech was the culmination of the four-day Republican National Conventionthat no one a year ago would have predicted to end with the billionaire real estate mogul as the party’s nominee.

Delegates heard from a wide array of speakers during the week, including former Trump Republican rivals who dropped out, including Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

The lineup for the past four nights was sprinkled with celebrities and businesspeople, including Southern Nevada residents: Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White and TI owner Phil Ruffin, who partnered with Trump to build Trump International near the Strip.

Domestic issues — bringing and keeping jobs in the U.S. — was another theme of Trump’s speech.

“I pledge to never sign any trade agreement that hurts our workers, or that diminishes our freedom and independence,” he said. “We will never ever sign bad trade deals.”

“America first again,” he added.

The GOP started with a field of 17 Republican candidates, most coming from more traditional backgrounds for presidential candidates. Trump’s momentum outlasted them all.

He also survived last-ditch maneuvering by anti-Trump forces determined to change the rules so that convention delegates could be “unbound” from candidates, meaning they’d be free to vote for whomever they wanted.

That rule change never happened, and Trump easily had enough delegates needed for the nomination.

DELEGATES REACT

Nevada delegates said Trump’s message resonated with them.

Rob Tyree, a delegate from Las Vegas, said Trump’s promise that the gay community needs to be made safe was refreshing. The nominee’s remarks came in the context of the mass shooting that left 49 people dead at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

“As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology,” Trump said.

As cheers erupted, he added: “And I have to say, as a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said.”

Tyree also praised Trump’s vow to swiftly deal with ISIS.

“I think it’s his race to lose at this point,” Tyree said. “He’s kind of a movement.”

National Committeewoman Diana Orrock said Trump spoke from his heart and was very open.

“It’s something we haven’t had in years,” she said.

The Democratic National Convention starts in Philadelphia on Monday, when delegates are expected to nominate Hillary Clinton.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenBotkin on Twitter.

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