Numerous delegates have worn bandages over their ears during the Republican National Convention, but CNN panelists couldn't help but chuckle Thursday when one delegate wore his during an interview.
Speaking on CNN's "The Situation Room," anchor Wolf Blitzer introduced reporter Phil Mattingly by saying the GOP is officially Donald Trump's party — "outfits and all."
Donning a bandage over his right ear, Mississippi delegate Andy Gibson told Mattingly he was wearing the prop in "solidarity with my President Donald J. Trump."
"He came within a millimeter of his life Saturday, but he got back up, he's in the fight, and I'm in the fight with him. And we're going to fight and we're going to win come November," said Gibson.
Gibson later added that he expects the crowd will erupt into celebration over the MAGA leader's "close call with death, but also what he stands for."
Read also: Heavily-bandaged Trump arrives at RNC — amid cheers of 'fight, fight, fight!'
Mattingly called it a "moment of unity" and said he's seen people wearing cheese-heads as well as cowboy hats.
Blitzer, trying to hold back a laugh, noted that while he's seen cheese-heads before — and "all sorts of other things" — certainly not bandages over their right ears.
When Blitzer asked Political Director David Chalien his thoughts on the bandages, the panel collectively chuckled.
"Well as we have said for several years now, a party re-made in the image of Donald Trump, this is the literal manifestation of that. In the image of Trump," he said.
Trump is very aware of his public image and does all he can to control it, Chalian added. He said he "can't imagine how much went into — before his first walkout onto the floor Monday night of looking at that and seeing if it was ok, and if the hair was ok with it — that's just who Donald Trump is."
Chalian said it's who Donald Trump is as a reality star.
"He understands the power of maintaining control of your own public image. And he's very skilled at that."
