Linda McMahon, former administrator of the Small Business Administration, during the Republican National Convention.
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Ahead of former President Donald Trump’s keynote speech tonight, the speaker’s schedule has sought to show a softer, friendlier side of Trump than his persona as president and on the campaign trail.
Several employees of Trump’s golf properties spoke out about his character, including John Nieporte, the head golf professional at Trump International in Florida.
“For 25 years, I’ve seen firsthand his generosity and his extraordinary character,” Nieporte said. “He could have chosen a quiet life. He could have played more golf, but he cares deeply about America and our people, and he just keeps working and does it for us.”
The buildup to Trump’s acceptance speech is also a schedule that largely avoids overshadowing the former president’s big moment.
Trump’s speech tonight is expected to be softer in tone and more focused on unity than his own. Typical campaign comments This year, those speeches painted a bleaker picture of the country, frequently attacked President Biden and Democrats and used harsh language toward their opponents.
The attempted change of tone at this week’s convention comes at a time when a majority of Americans do not believe Trump has the character to serve as president, according to an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll.
Linda McMahon, WWE executive turned small business manager, calls Trump a wrestler
Linda McMahon, who served for a time as Trump’s Small Business Administration administrator, spoke from her perspective as a colleague, employee and friend of the former president.
McMahon, along with her husband Vince, spent decades as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) before running unsuccessfully for both of Connecticut’s U.S. Senate seats in 2009 and 2010.
She served as Trump’s small business administrator from 2017 to 2019, when… resigned to join pro-Trump super PAC America First Action. She appeared on stage as the group’s president. America First Policy Institutewhich was founded in 2021 by former Trump advisers.
McMahon began with what she described as “probably not your typical Donald Trump story,” recalling a time she met him at Mar-a-Lago for a meeting and observed a sweet interaction between him and her 4-year-old granddaughter.
“He kissed her on both cheeks, she took off his hat and ruffled his hair, and he smiled with only the love that a grandfather might have given,” she said, joining a long list of RNC speakers who have portrayed Trump as a loving family man.
McMahon said he first met Trump during his time in WWE, when he “He became a part of some of the most engaging and highly rated stories.“It’s in the history of the company.”
She said she was honored to serve in his Cabinet at his invitation, and recalled the time she spent traveling the country speaking with business owners and job creators.
“They knew they had a president who understood them and fought for them,” he said.
McMahon described Trump as a champion of job creation and “the best friend American workers have ever had in the White House.” And, in true WWE fashion, he described him as “not just a wrestler” but “a good man.”
“He has the heart of a lion and the soul of a warrior, and I believe that if necessary he would stand at the gates of hell to defend our country,” he added.