"I'm with you, the American people," Trump said. "I am your voice."
Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican nomination for president in a long and dark speech seeing himself as the only savior of an America in decline.
Addressing the RNC audience in Cleveland on Thursday, Trump cast his candidacy as a contrast between establishment "political correctness" and his unique brand of isolationist populism.
"No longer can we rely on those same people in the media, and politics, who will say anything to keep a rigged system in place," Trump said.
"History is watching us now. It’s waiting to see if we will rise to the occasion, and if we will show the whole world that America is still free and independent and strong."
Trump's acceptance speech focused heavily on supporting law enforcement, referencing recent shooting of police officers, as well as recent terrorist shooting in San Bernardino, California and Orlando, Florida. The Republican nominee promised to appoint "the best prosecutors and law enforcement officers."
"In this race for the White House, I am the law and order candidate," Trump said. When a protester interrupted the Republican nominee midway through his speech, he briefly veered off-script.
"How great are our police?" Trump said, prompting one of the loudest applauses of the night.
Trump also returned to some of his time-tested themes, reiterating his ban on immigration from countries that have "been compromised by terrorism," a policy that the Republican nominee proposed after previously advocating for a ban on all Muslims entering the US.
But the real-estate mogul spent considerable time criticizing President Barack Obama and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
The Republican presidential nominee said that Obama regretted appointing Clinton secretary of state, criticizing her foreign policy legacy in countries like Libya and Syria that have been plagued by civil war.
"I am certain it is a decision he truly regrets. Her bad instinct and her bad judgment," Trump said. He added: "This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: Death, destruction, terrorism, and weakness."
Trump also attempted to cast Clinton as a representative of corporate interests, asserting that wealthy donors were attempting to influence the former secretary of state by donating money to her campaign.
"They are throwing money at her because they have total control over everything she does. She is their puppet, and they pull the strings," Trump said.
The crowd's enthusiasm in the hall occasionally boiled over, interrupting the real-estate magnate himself. After Trump criticized Clinton's character and honesty, the crowd began chanting "Lock her up!"
Trump paused, acknowledging the crowd's chanting. "Let's defeat her in November," Trump replied.
