Tim Scott’s Republican National Convention Speech Wows

The first night of the Republican National Convention was middling at best until Tim Scott took the stage at the end. The production value of the event far outstripped the Democratic National Convention last week, but much of the broadcast was transparently aimed at pleasing an audience of one — the president.

Viewers tuning in to see whether or not the Republicans are still a serious political party four years after nominating Donald Trump will not have been impressed by the organizers’ decision to have Charlie Kirk open the proceedings. Kirk introduced the president as the “defender of Western civilization.” Before anyone rushes to take this designation seriously, it should be noted that the speaker in question isn’t exactly a world-renowned academic authority where Western civilization is concerned. Natalie Harp had a wonderful story to tell about right-to-try and medical freedom, but that story was difficult to discern at times through the torrent of messianic savior-worship she constantly and cringingly rained down upon the president in the second person. But Kimberly Guilfoyle took this to a whole new level. If her speech had appeared in an episode of Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing, both the writer and the actress in question would have been justly lampooned for straw-manning conservative women.

About the Author

Cameron Hilditch

Cameron Hilditch was a 2020-2021 William F. Buckley Fellow in Political Journalism at National Review Institute.

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The first night of the Republican National Convention was middling at best until Tim Scott took the stage at the end. The production value of the event far outstripped the Democratic National Convention last week, but much of the broadcast was transparently aimed at pleasing an audience of one — the president.

Viewers tuning in to see whether or not the Republicans are still a serious political party four years after nominating Donald Trump will not have been impressed by the organizers’ decision to have Charlie Kirk open the proceedings. Kirk introduced the president as the “defender of Western civilization.” Before anyone rushes to take this designation seriously, it should be noted that the speaker in question isn’t exactly a world-renowned academic authority where Western civilization is concerned. Natalie Harp had a wonderful story to tell about right-to-try and medical freedom, but that story was difficult to discern at times through the torrent of messianic savior-worship she constantly and cringingly rained down upon the president in the second person. But Kimberly Guilfoyle took this to a whole new level. If her speech had appeared in an episode of Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing, both the writer and the actress in question would have been justly lampooned for straw-manning conservative women.