Former president Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination Thursday in Milwaukee by vowing to unite the country and solve the nation’s major challenges as he credited God for saving him from an assassin’s bullet. It was the first public speech for Trump since Saturday’s assassination attempt, which left him with a bandage on his right ear from a bullet that pierced his earlobe and nearly ended his life.

“There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way, I felt very safe because I had God on my side,” he told the cheering crowd and a national television audience.

“I’m not supposed to be here tonight. Not supposed to be here,” he said. “And I’ll tell you: I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God.

“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 implied the incident had changed his outlook on life.

“We live in a world of miracles. None of us knows God’s plan or where life’s adventure will take us,” he said. “... If the events of last Saturday make anything clear, it is that every single moment we have on Earth is a gift from God.”

The 93-minute speech was the longest in convention history, mixing his ad-libbing stump speech and scripted policy promises. He pledged to end the border crisis, lower inflation, and improve America’s standing worldwide.

“It is time to start expecting and demanding the best leadership in the world -- leadership that is bold, dynamic, relentless, and fearless,” he said. “... But as long as our energies are spent fighting each other, our destiny will remain out of reach. And that’s not acceptable. 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. We can do it together. We will unite. We are going to come together, and success will bring us together.”

America’s forefathers, he said, achieved greatness through hard work, determination, and faith in God.

“Just like our ancestors, we must now come together and rise above past differences. Any disagreements have to be put aside and go forward united as one people, one nation, pledging allegiance to one great …flag.

“Together, we will save this country. We will restore the Republic,” he said. “And we will usher in the rich and wonderful tomorrows that our people so truly deserve. America’s future will be bigger, better, bolder, brighter, happier, stronger, freer, greater, and more united than ever before.”