Republican vice president candidate JD Vance delivers speech to RNC crowd at Discovery World

Milwaukee is known for its many Lake Michigan landmarks, so it's only fitting that they'd serve as a backdrop for some of the top players at the Republican National Convention this week.

On Wednesday, July 17, Republican vice president candidate J.D. Vance spoke at Discovery World at an event sponsored by the Log Cabin Republicans, a pro-LGBTQ group. Vance spoke about his reaction after the assassination attempt last weekend against former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania.

"I was so afraid for him, and so afraid for our country," Vance said to the RNC crowd Wednesday.

The vice presidential candidate talked about what the media gets wrong about the former president, explaining that last weekend's events show that the media "misses what the man is made of."

Vance explained that he felt "pissed" the moment he found out about the assassination attempt, but Trump called for national unity and calm.

"The media keeps on saying they want somebody to tone down the temperature. Well, Donald Trump got shot and he toned down the temperature," Vance said. "That's what a real leader does."

The moment drew applause from the Discovery World crowd.

During his speech, though, Vance referred to Trump as the president on multiple occasions. For example, in one instance Vance said, "I cannot believe an assassin tried to take down the president of the United States."

Vance is the most anticipated speaker Wednesday night. He will speak at 9:30, right after his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, who will deliver remarks at 9. Tonight's theme is "Make America Strong Once Again."

Caitlin Looby can be reached at [email protected] or follow her on X @caitlooby.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Vice president candidate J.D. Vance speaks to crowd at Discovery World