Nick Sandmann at the RNC: 'Defamed by the Media'; Tiffany Trump: 'Manipulated and Invisibly Coerced by the Media and Tech Giants' (August 25, 2020)

Nick Sandmann told the Republican National Convention what happened after he put on a red hat. “Good evening everyone. My name is Nick Sandmann. I’m the teenager who was defamed by the media after an encounter with a group of protestors on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial last year,” Sandmann said, according to his remarks as prepared, released by the Trump campaign for the second night of the convention on Aug. 25, 2020 [1].

“Looking back now, how could I possibly have imagined that the simple act of putting on that red hat would unleash the hate from the left and make myself the target of network and cable news networks, nationwide?” he said [1].

He explained why he was there. “In January 2019, I attended the March for Life in Washington D.C. where I demonstrated in defense of the unborn. Later that day, I bought a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat because our President, Donald Trump, has distinguished himself as the most pro-life Presidents in the history of our country and I wanted to express my support for him too.” [1]

The video above shows the speeches of Nicholas Sandmann and Tiffany Trump at the 2020 Republican National Convention. Quotes are from the remarks as prepared, published by the American Presidency Project, and from GovInfo [1][2][3][4].

”The Full War Machine of the Mainstream Media”

Sandmann described the encounter at the Lincoln Memorial. “While the media portrayed me as the aggressor with a ‘relentless smirk’ on my face, in reality the video confirms I was standing with my hands behind my back and an awkward smile on my face that hid two thoughts,” he said [1].

“My life changed forever in that one moment. The full war machine of the mainstream media revved up into attack mode. They did so without ever researching the full video of the incident; without ever investigating Mr. Philips’ motives; or without ever asking me for my side of the story,” Sandmann said [1].

“And do you know why? Because the truth wasn’t important. Advancing their anti-Christian, anti-Conservative, anti-Donald Trump narrative was all that mattered,” he said [1].

”But I Wouldn’t Be Cancelled”

“I learned that what was happening to me had a name. It was called being cancelled. As in annulled. As in revoked. As in made void,” Sandmann said [1].

“But I wouldn’t be cancelled. I fought back hard to expose the media for what they did to me and won a personal victory,” he said [1].

“And I know you’ll agree with me when I say no one in this county has been a victim of unfair media coverage more than President Donald Trump,” Sandmann said, according to the prepared text [1].

He ended with the president’s slogan. “This is worth fighting for. This is worth voting for. This is what President Donald Trump stands for. Thank you all for listening to me tonight. And one more thing… let’s Make America Great Again!” [1]

“My Father Built a Thriving Economy Once”

Tiffany Trump spoke the same night. “Like so many students across the world, I graduated from law school during the pandemic,” she said. “As a recent graduate, I can relate to so many of you who might be looking for a job. My father built a thriving economy once, and believe me, he will do it again.” [1]

She pointed to his record. “If you believe in criminal justice reform, there is only one president that passed the First Step Act. Giving people a second chance, a chance at life once again,” she said [1].

“And if you believe in expanding quality and affordable healthcare, only President Trump, my father, signed Right to Try into law, the Favored Nations clause, and other actions to lower drug prices and keep Americans from getting ripped off,” Tiffany Trump said [1].

“We believe in school choice, because a child’s zip code in America should not determine their future,” she said [1].

”Manipulated and Invisibly Coerced”

She went after the press and Big Tech. “People must recognize that our thoughts, opinions, and even the choice of who we vote for are being manipulated and invisibly coerced by the media and tech giants,” she said [1].

“If you tune into the media, you get one biased opinion or another. And if what you share does not fit into the narrative they seek to promote, then it is either ignored or deemed a ‘lie,’ regardless of the truth,” Tiffany Trump said [1].

“So, if you are hearing these things and thinking to yourself, THAT is the kind of country I want to live in. Well, whether you realized it or not, you’re a Trump supporter,” she said [1].

By the Numbers

2019: the year Sandmann attended the March for Life and wore the hat, per his remarks [1].
Dec. 21, 2018: the day the First Step Act became law [2].
May 30, 2018: the day the Right to Try Act became law [3].
312-226: Trump’s Electoral College win in 2024 [4].

What Happened Next

The laws she cited are on the books. The First Step Act of 2018 is Public Law 115-391, signed Dec. 21, 2018 [2]. The Right to Try Act is Public Law 115-176, “An Act To authorize the use of unapproved medical products by patients diagnosed with a terminal illness in accordance with State law, and for other purposes.” [3]

Trump won the White House again. The National Archives lists the 2024 Electoral College result as “Electoral Vote Winner: 312 Main Opponent: 226,” with Trump the winner [4].

For Trump’s 2020 State of the Union, see HYGO News’ page on Feb. 4, 2020. For Trump calling Kamala Harris’s absence from the Catholic Al Smith dinner disrespectful, see the page on Oct. 18, 2024.