BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Western New York conservative talk show host and decorated Army veteran David Bellavia says people close to Donald Trump approached him about a month ago about speaking at the Republican National Convention. 

He's talking about national security and military recruitment.

"Afghanistan is the number one thing that's killing our ability to recruit. Parents just don't trust the military's ability to keep its word," Bellavia said.

In 2019, President Trump awarded Bellavia the Medal of Honor and he has since been promoting the merits of joining the military to recruits and families around the country.

"This is something I know well," he said. "I feel I'm a subject matter expert because I'm still running around asking people to join the Army every single day."

Bellavia believes the country is fatigued by the War on Terror and the fashion in which troops were pulled out of Afghanistan. He compared it to the sentiments following Vietnam.

Bellavia said U.S enemies — Iran, China and Russia — have become stronger under the Biden administration.

"The way that you stop (the malaise) is by having some success overseas and there's too much going on in the world right now where America isn't leading," he said.

As for the convention in general, he said it is a different environment than past conventions he has attended. Bellavia said even protesters have been mostly cordial and the event seems less about partisan politics and more about patriotism.

"Saturday has changed things," he said, referring to the assassination attempt on Trump. "Now, how long can we keep that change in stability, that's what we'll find out. We'll find out on Thursday. Is this all talk or is there a notable difference?"

However, Bellavia said the Pennsylvania shooting over the weekend can be felt in other ways too. He compared the Milwaukee facility to compounds in places like Baghdad with multiple security checks and significant Secret Service presence.

"That security team that was with President Trump, that's robust. That's not something we've seen traditionally. That was a show of force. That was the Secret Service saying, hey, whatever happened in Pennsylvania, we'll find out but it's not going to happen again and we're going to do our best," Bellavia said.

Bellavia also weighed in on Trump's Vice Presidential pick, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance. He said while he doesn't know the candidate well, he would like to see more veterans like Vance serving in top offices and appreciates the youth factor brought by the 39-year-old politician.