MILWAUKEE — Five days after narrowly escaping assassination, Donald Trump will accept his presidential nomination on Thursday (July 18) before an adoring crowd of supporters, the final act in his transformation of the Republican Party into the party of Trump.

His brush with death has fuelled the growing quasi-religious fervour among the party faithful, elevating him from political leader to a man they believe is protected by God.

"Trump, Trump, Trump," attendees roared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee when he appeared each night this week, his right ear bandaged, to listen to speaker after speaker intone reverentially about him and reference God's hand in his survival from a would-be assassin's bullet.

Republicans are uniting behind him this week. With most dissent quelled and his grip on the party never tighter, Trump will be in a much stronger position than in his 2017-2021 term to follow through on his agenda if he wins the Nov 5 election.

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