The closing of the Republic National Convention—the first political convention to be held at the White House—ended last night with a huge firework display and an opera performance.
The fourth and final night of the RNC took place on the South Lawn, where President Donald Trump officially accepted his party's nomination for president in front of more than 1,000 supporters.
While accepting his nomination, Trump said: "Tonight, with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for President of the United States."
Aside from the evening's speeches, the event's production value also had people talking, as the Republican Party spent nearly $3 million on consultants. The Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 RNC spent at least $12 million in total on hosting the event.
However, the production budget for the RNC may not be surprising for those who tuned in to watch the closing ceremony.
How to Watch Trump 2020 Firework Display and Opera Performance
The final night of the RNC was closed with a red, white, and blue firework display, in which "Trump" and "2020" were projected onto the sky above D.C. and met with applause from Trump's supporters. The full firework display can be watched below:
Following the firework display, Trump's guests were given a performance by opera singer Christopher Macchio, who sang "Nessun Dorma," Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and "Ave Maria" in front of Trump and his family. The full video of Macchio's post-Trump speech performance can be watched below:
WATCH: @ChrisMacchio performs “Nessun Dorma” at the conclusion of the #RNC2020. pic.twitter.com/Xtu7VfrcCm
— Cheddar🧀 (@cheddar) August 28, 2020
Macchio also performed before Trump's speech, when he sang "Ave Maria," "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables, and "The Lord's Prayer." Both performances by Macchio can be viewed on YouTube:
The opera singer's rendition of Hallelujah wasn't the first time the RNC heard the song last night, as Tori Kelly's cover had already been played during the firework display.
However, in a now-deleted tweet, Kelly apparently said: "seeing messages about my version of hallelujah... all I know is neither myself nor my team received a request."
Nevertheless, Macchio showed his support for the president, before, during, and after the event. Speaking about his performance at the RNC, Macchio said on Twitter: "What President Donald Trump and the first family did for me tonight is something I'll never forget.
"They stood and listened in regal nobility as I performed with tremendous love and pride in my heart for a nation grateful for their commitment to saving our culture and way of life."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
