Following his acceptance of the GOP presidential nomination, Donald Trump took to social media to tout what he dubbed the “Best And Most Successful Convention in History,” emphasizing “Big TV RATINGS” and showering praise on himself.
Trump, known for his penchant for self-aggrandizement, boasted on Truth Social: “Big TV RATINGS last night for the Republican Convention, the best and most successful in history! Fox led the way. MSNBC was dead last. Four Great Days!!!”
While Fox News did indeed lead in viewership—not exactly surprising, given it’s the Republican National Convention— with over 8.8 million tuning in to Trump’s lengthy speech, Forbes reported, the broader acclaim Trump claimed wasn’t universally shared. His “great reviews” seemingly came from predictable sources like Fox News hosts and MAGA influencers, with many others holding divergent opinions.
Notably, Trump also recounted a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he asserted plans to bring peace and end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, despite having praised the invasion’s strategic acumen in the past.
Additionally, Trump pledged to secure the release of imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich “FOR NO COMPENSATION” if re-elected, a promise met with skepticism given past failures to secure releases of other detainees like Trevor Reed.
“I will get him out FOR NO COMPENSATION immediately following our victory on November 5th,” Trump claimed on X.
Former Marine Trevor Reed, who was detained in Russia from 2019 to 2022, immediately dismissed Trump’s statement, writing on X: “As a former wrongful detainee in Russia, I would just like to remind everyone that President Trump had the ability to get myself and Paul Whelan out of Russia for years and chose not to. I would be skeptical of any claims about getting Evan Gershkovich back in a day,”
In December 2022, Trump also claimed credit for the release of pro basketball player Brittney Griner from a Russian jail, part of a complex prisoner swap that took place during the Biden administration.
