Voices from the RNC Convention: To Vima Talks with Republican Delegates in Milwaukee

As the 2024 presidential race intensifies, former President Donald Trump faces an increasingly competitive landscape with Vice President Kamala Harris emerging as a considerable opponent. Her campaign has galvanized the Democratic base, expanding its reach to pivotal swing voters and posing a challenge to Trump’s ambitions for a return to the Oval Office.

In response, Trump may be inclined to double down on the unwavering support of his core followers: the delegates of the Republican National Committee (RNC). These delegates, representing a wide array of states and backgrounds, are the lifeblood of the GOP, embodying its foundational values and charting its course forward.

To Vima traveled in Milwaukee for the RNC Convention and had the opportunity to delve into the voices and viewpoints of these crucial players, offering insights into the party’s grassroots strategies and the sentiments driving them as they prepare for a contentious election season.

The delegates’ perspectives are more vital than ever as the GOP needs to expand its electoral base and seeks to navigate the shifting dynamics of American politics.

Christos Marafatsos: Donald Trump Campaign 2024

“So, we do internal polls over the last three elections, in 2016, 2020, and 2024. And in every election, we saw an overwhelming majority of Greek Americans supporting Trump. But this election is more to Donald Trump than ever before. We polled that two out of three Greek-Americans are supporting this President, which is exciting because our community is predominantly based on small business owners, extremely educated and hard-working people and taxpayers who want to be well represented. And they see Donald Trump as that person who will provide them the American dream and the same opportunity that my father and grandfather had when they came in this country. They see him as a hopeful person who will bring prosperity and freedom to everyone without focusing on things that don’t matter these days. People are hurting. They are hurting physically, economically, and mentally, and they want someone who would come and give them that sense of opportunity and freedom that we always had in this country. And that’s what Donald Trump will bring back and this is why the Greek-American community overwhelmingly supports him.”

Greek-American Delegate from Ohio

“My name is Alex Triantafilou and I am a first-generation American. My mother was born in Athens and my father in Tenedos. My father came in 1939 and my mother in 1957 and they have been here ever since. I am a lawyer and I am chairman of the Ohio Republican Party and I have been active in Republican politics for more than 20 years.

I know that Donald Trump loves the Greek people. I have been in the White House and I have seen him speaking to the Greek people. We love the Greek people. Americans love Greece and that relationship is very important to the United States. I proud to be a Greek-American.

Greek Americans have done very well in the U.S. They are small business owners and they are pro-family. And so many of the traditional values that we believe as a community Donald Trump has embraced them. Those include supporting small businesses, less regulation, lower taxes, and of course legal immigration because all the Greeks whom I know came here legally.

Inflation is part of it. The inability to seal the southern border with people flowing into communities, taking American jobs, all those things combined have an economic impact. And Joe Biden has to answer about the economic conditions that exist while he is the President. Certainly, will be the economy and inflation. That’s the number one issue on the minds of most Americans.

I am very concerned about the union. I think all Americans condemn the attack on Donald Trump. It was one individual, so it is not a movement. But again, we need to bring our rhetoric down. Here is what happening from our perspective as Republicans. Trump talks about immigration, inflation, taxes, and crime. The other side compares him to Hitler. That is dangerous. We should be debating issues. If they keep that our candidate is a nazi and dictator that’s not a debate on the issues. It is not civilized. We need to stay focused on what we care as Americans and what united us: freedom, liberty, capitalism.”

West Virginia Delegate

“The country is indeed divided and we need someone with leadership to get us back on track. And we know that Donald Trump is the man for that job. I think he has already done a lot to bring us together and gather his opponents. So, in that matter, he has done a great job and he seems to be more congenial to other peoples’ views.

Regarding the gun issue, I can tell you that guns don’t kill people; people kill people. And I think no matter how much you try to enforce gun legislation; it is not going to do any good. It has to be changing people’s heart and that is hard to do.”

Virginia Delegate

“We have a lot of things that concern us as far as our energy policy. Energy is a big part of it. There is a lot of cultural issues. You have people who are trying to move the country away from traditional Judeo-Christian values. So, that is a big part of what is going on and that concerns a lot of people.”

Michigan Delegate

“Absolutely. I feel there is a lot of trouble with our election system. I am from the state of Michigan and they are passing new laws, which make our elections less secure. Of course, the law says they are making them more secure, but that it is not what it is happening. So, I do have great concerns.

About gun regulation, I think that Americans have a strong belief that we have the right to protect ourselves with weapons and guns. It is what we call a slippery slope. You take away one gun and then comes the next gun. So, it is part of our Constitution and we like to keep that Second Amendment right very close.

I think the freedom of the entire world is at stake right now. Certainly, for America, we are at a turning point. If we do not get back our country, we are at risk of losing what it has in terms of protection from the U.S. and its rights.”

Wisconsin Delegate

“What is at stake here is the future of America. The America that we love; the America of opportunity, that is really what the stakes are about. We want to return to our roots and create an America where there is opportunity for everyone. And that is really what we are all about here.

The changes we have seen over the last three and a half years are taking us in the wrong direction. We have families that are struggling to pay for groceries, they cannot afford gas and wondering whether they could afford a home or to have children in the future. And we want everyone to be part of the American dream.”

Indiana Delegate

“What is at stake in this election is the absolute freedom of every American because the left is trying to get away our freedoms. They want to impose their beliefs on every American and with lawfare going on and trying to assassinate our presidential candidate they do not want Republicans to win. I think President Trump is already uniting the country. I think so many people are coming over to our side. They see that we are for freedom, we want the best for every American, we want a great economy, we want safety, we want everyone to prosper and to bring back the American dream for everybody. So, I think he is already uniting the country with that message.”