(NewsNation) — In his Thursday speech accepting the GOP nomination for the presidency, former President Donald Trump shared his view of last week’s attempt on his life and promised to be president for all of America “because there is no victory in winning for half of America.” But his theme of unity gave way to several familiar lines blasting President Joe Biden’s administration.

“In less than four years, our opponents have turned incredible success into unparalleled tragedy and failure,” Trump said, several minutes after thanking all who helped him during the July 13 attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania.

In his speech at the GOP convention in Milwuakee, Trump tried to set a somber, respectful tone, which he says is a direct result of the unsuccessful attempt on his life last week.

“In an age when our politics too often divide us, now is the time to remember that we are all fellow citizens — we are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” he said.

Trump recounts assassination attempt

Trump recounted his experience last Saturday in Pennsylvania, prefacing the story by saying he would tell it only once, “because it’s actually too painful to tell.”

Trump said he arrived to find a warm day and a cheering crowd at the outdoor rally. “I began speaking very strongly, powerfully and happily.”

As he described a chart on immigration, “I started to turn to my right, and was ready to begin a little bit further turn, which I’m very lucky I didn’t do. I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard on my right ear.

“I said to myself, ‘Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet’ … and moved my right hand to my ear, brought it down. My hand was covered with blood. I immediately knew that it was very serious, that we were under attack.”

Trump praised the Secret Service agents who rushed to the stage and surrounded him, and the sniper who killed the shooter.

“These are great people, at great risk, I will tell you. They pounced on top of me so that I would be protected.

“Prior to the shot, if I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark and I would not be here tonight. We would not be together.”

Trump, on the floor of the stage surrounded by agents, realized the crowd probably thought he had been killed, and said he needed to tell them he was OK.

“I raised my right arm, looked at the … people that (were) breathless waiting, and started shouting ‘fight, fight, fight.’”

“I stand before you in this arena by the grace of almighty God.”

Praises shooting victims, family, running mate

Trump then paid tribute to the retired firefighter, Corey Comperatore, who was killed by a shooter’s bullet, and the two men who were wounded.

“What a fine man he was,” Trump said as he walked to a display of Comperatore’s firefighter jacket and helmet on the stage. He also said that people have contributed more than $6 million to benefit the families of Comperatore and the two who were wounded.

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others. This is the love that will lead America back … to greatness,” Trump said.

Diving into the heart of his speech, Trump thanked his wife, Melania, who was in the Fiserv Forum, his children, grandchildren and running mate JD Vance for their support.

He also praised UFC CEO Dana White who introduced the former president, and country singer Lee Greenwood for a rendition of his signature song “God Bless the USA” as Trump walked on stage. Trump entered ahead of a glowing, pulsating sign that simply read “Trump.”

He spoke in front of a recreation of the north entrance of the White House. Huge screens behind him illustrated the speech with still photos of the events of the attempt to take his life last Saturday.

Outlines vision, mentions Biden once

In a speech that close supporters say he rewrote after the shooting, Trump outlined his vision for a second term, but also went on familiar tangents beyond his main points about illegal immigration, the economy and projecting strength overseas.

He blasted the record of President Joe Biden, mentioning Biden’s name just once.

“The damage Biden has done is unthinkable. It’s unthinkable,” Trump said as he listed several questionable claims. He also peppered references to his longstanding claim that he was cheated out of the 2020 election.

“It’s a shame … the damage that this administration as done,” he added.

“Under our leadership, the United States will be respected again. No nation will question our power. No enemy will doubt our might,” he said.

“Our borders will be totally secure. Our economy will soar. We will return law and order to our streets, patriotism to our schools, and importantly, we will restore peace, stability and harmony all throughout the world.”

On world affairs, Trump promised to end “every single international crisis that the current administration has created — including the horrible war with Russia and Ukraine, and the war caused by the attack on Israel, both of which would never have happened if I were president.”

On what he called the inflation crisis, Trump promised to drive down prices “and make America affordable again.”

“By slashing energy costs, we will in turn reduce the cost of transportation, manufacturing and all household goods. We have more liquid gold under our feet than any other country by far. We are a nation that has the opportunity to make an absolute fortune with its energy. We have it, and China doesn’t.”

Trump sai, under his guidance, the U.S. will move beyond energy independence and become “energy dominant and supply not only ourselves but the rest of the world.”

He also promised to finish building the wall along the southern border and end what he labeled the illegal immigration crisis: “a massive invasion at our southern border that has spread misery, crime, poverty, disease and destruction to communities all across our land.”

Trump ends with call for unity

After blasting Democrats for telling Americans to lower their expectations in the past few years, Trump said his message is the opposite.

“Your expectations are not big enough. It is time to start expecting and demanding the best leadership in the world, leadership that is bold, dynamic, relentless and fearless. We are Americans. Ambition is our heritage. Greatness is our birthright.”

Trump concluded with a call for unity in language he has seldom used in his political career.

“As long as our energies are spent fighting each other, our destiny will remain out of reach. We must instead take that energy and use it to realize our country’s true potential — and write our own thrilling chapter of the American story,” he said.

“Tonight, I ask for your partnership, for your support, and I am humbly asking for your vote. Every day, I will strive to honor the trust you have placed in me, and I will never let you down.”