Mace says Republican convention needs ‘unifying message’ following Trump rally shooting

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.) on Sunday said this week’s Republican National Convention needs to present a “unifying message” following the assassination attempt against former President Trump at a rally Saturday.

When asked on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday” how the tone of the GOP convention will change given the shooting, Mace said, “Well, I think it has to change.”

“Right now, many of us are angry. We’re reeling from the shocking events last night,” she said, adding later, “We should have a unifying tone. I think that’ll happen naturally, that we’ll have a unifying message, not just for the Republican Party, but for a nation who’s going to be hurting and need time to heal in the weeks and months to come.”

Her remarks came less than a day after a shooter opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pa., wounding the former president, who said a bullet pierced his ear. One spectator was killed, and two other attendees were critically injured, according to the U.S. Secret Service.

The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks by the FBI, was killed by authorities at the scene. The FBI has yet to identify a motive for the shooting, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Pittsburgh, said late Saturday.

“What we saw last night was an attack, literally…an attack on democracy, blood everywhere, victims, a presidential nominee who was shot in the ear. It is disgusting,” Mace said. “We need to condemn it at all costs, but also show leadership.”

Mace’s words echo that of Trump, who called on Americans to unite in a Sunday morning message.

“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”

In the same post, the former president said it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”

The GOP convention is slated to kick off Monday in Milwaukee and Trump confirmed he is still planning to attend.

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Watley, in an interview Sunday with “Fox News Sunday,” predicted a change in mood for the convention, though the plans for the week remain largely unchanged.

“I think unity is obviously very important. I think strength is obviously very important, but right now, this morning, I think politics is secondary,” Whaltey said. “I think right now we need to be praying for these families that have been affected, I think we need to be grateful that President Trump is alive and is actually going to be there.”

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.