Donald Trump Jr. blasted Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden during his speech on the first night of the Republican National Convention. The theme of the night was "Land of Promise" and featured Trump Jr. along with numerous other speakers at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., including Nikki Haley and Tim Scott.

Trump Jr. warned that Biden's "radical left-wing policies would stop our economic recovery cold," adding that "he's already talking about shutting the country down -- again."

He blamed Biden for many of the problems facing the country, calling him "the Loch Ness Monster of the Swamp."

"For the past half-century, he's been lurking around in there. He sticks his head up every now and then to run for President, then he disappears and doesn't do much in between."

He accused Biden of the Democratic Party of trying to silence Americans who disagree with them.

"Joe Biden and the radical left are also now coming for our freedom of speech and want to bully us into submission. If they get their way, it will no longer be the 'Silent Majority,' it will be the 'Silenced Majority.'"

Trump Jr. said that his father is the only person who can lead the country to a prosperous future.

"Imagine the life you want to have--one with a great job, a beautiful home, and a perfect family. You can have it," he said. "Imagine the country you want to live in--one with true equality of opportunity, where hard work pays off, and justice is served with compassion and without partiality. You can have it."

President Trump made two pre-taped appearances during the night. In the first video, the President met with frontline workers in the East Room of the White House. Standing six feet apart, they each discussed their personal experiences on the front lines battling the coronavirus pandemic.

"These are great, great people: Doctors, nurses, firemen, a policeman. We want to thank you, all you've been incredible, and we want to thank you and all the millions of people that you represent," the President said.

Later in the evening, he appeared in a video filmed in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House with former hostages and detainees who were freed during his administration.

Pastor Andrew Brunson, who spent 28 years in Turkey, praised the Trump administration for taking "unprecedented steps" to secure his freedom.

Trump promised that "we have a few more people we want to get back, and we will get them back, and they'll be back very soon."

Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley praised President Trump and the achievements he made during his first term. She said he puts Americans first, while his the Democrats are always blaming America.

"Joe Biden and the Democrats are still blaming America first," Haley said. "Donald Trump has always put America first. He has earned four more years as President."

She pushed back at claims that Trump and the Republican Party are racist.

"In much of the Democratic Party, it's now fashionable to say that America is racist. That is a lie. America is not a racist country," Haley said. "This is personal for me. I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants. They came to America and settled in a small Southern town. My father wore a turban. My mother wore a sari. I was a brown girl in a Black and White world. We faced discrimination and hardship, but my parents never gave into grievance and hate."

She admitted that "America is a work in progress," but said that President Trump is committed to American principles.

"America is not perfect, but the principles we hold dear are perfect. There is one thing I've learned, it's that even on our worst day, we are blessed to live in America. It's time to keep that blessing alive for the next generation. This President and this party are committed to that noble task," Haley said.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott closed out the evening, saying that this year's presidential election is about the promise of America and dealing with challenges that face the nation.

"We are always striving to be better. When we stumble, and we will, we pick ourselves back up and try again," Scott said.

He criticized Biden's record and warned that Democrats want a "cultural revolution" that will lead to a "fundamentally different America," which will look like "a socialist utopia."

Scott said that he believes the Republicans provide the best opportunity for Americans to prosper, praising policies such as school choice and opportunity zones. He ended his speech by describing how his family went from picking cotton to the halls of Congress in one lifetime.

"Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime," Scott said. "There are millions of families like mine across this nation...full of potential seeking to live the American dream. And I'm here tonight to tell you that supporting the Republican ticket gives you the best chance of making that dream a reality."

Photo: Getty Images

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