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Editor’s note: This page reflects the news from the 2024 Republican National Convention on Monday, July 15. Follow the latest news on Donald Trump, JD Vance and the RNC in our live updates for Tuesday, July 16.
MILWAUKEE − Former President Donald Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, were formally selected on Monday as the GOP’s 2024 presidential and vice presidential nominees.
Trump announced that he was tapping Vance as his running mate in the afternoon, ending months of speculation with a pick that seeks to capitalize on the 39-year-old Ohio senator’s youth and celebrity status among conservatives and who skyrocketed to fame as the author of “Hillbilly Elegy.”
While Republicans celebrated as they formally nominated Trump and Vance, the moment came just days after an assassination attempt against the former president.
One man was killed in the attack at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend, and two were seriously injured. A slate of Republican speakers on the convention stage Monday night called on Americans across the country to unite in the wake of the shooting.
Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team.
GOP lawmakers and other officials also made their conservative pitch to voters and criticized President Joe Biden over the issues facing the nation, with a particular focus on his handling of the economy.
Catch up with live updates from the USA TODAY Network.
Teamsters President: ‘We are not beholden to anyone or any party’
Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, on Monday evening said it was an “honor” to be the first-ever president in the union’s history to address a Republican National Convention.
“Today, the Teamsters are here to say we are not beholden to anyone or any party,” O’Brien said. “I don’t care about getting criticized, it’s an honor to be the first Teamster in our 121-year history to address the Republican National Convention.”
Teamsters, America’s largest, most diverse union, represents workers in both the public and private sector, including public defenders, vegetable workers, construction workers and health care workers.
The Teamsters union has yet to throw their support for any presidential candidate in 2024. In the last election, they backed President Biden, and in 2016, they supported Hillary Clinton.
Teamsters President:‘We are not beholden to anyone or any party’
−Rebecca Morin
Trump leaves convention’s first day without speaking
After making his first public appearance since his assassination attempt, Trump left Fiserv Forum without speaking on the first day of the convention.
Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley declared the convention in recess until tomorrow afternoon.
Additional streets were closed downtown between Fiserv Forum and the Pfister as Donald Trump’s motorcade was expected.
− Tristan Hernandez, Mary Spicuzza
Donald Trump called Doug Burgum ‘Mr. Secretary,’ governor told CNN
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who was on the shortlist to be a Donald Trump’s running mate, told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Monday that Trump addressed him in a phone call as “Mr. Secretary,” suggesting he could have a future role in a second Trump administration.
“There’s going to be no Cabinet positions that Trump can get out unless he wins. And this is going to be a tight race for sure this fall,” he said.
−Sudiksha Kochi
Sean Hannity asks JD Vance about calling Donald Trump ‘America’s Hitler’
The GOP’s freshly-nominated vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance once referred to Trump as “America’s Hitler” in a 2016 message to a friend.
Monday, hours after officially becoming Trump’s running mate, he told Fox News’ Sean Hannity his opinion changed during the former president’s tenure in the White House.
“I don’t hide from that,” Vance said. “I was certainly skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016, but President Trump was a great president, and he changed my mind. I think he changed the minds of a lot of Americans.”
−Savannah Kuchar
Amber Rose talks about embracing Donald Trump
Amber Rose, the former reality star, rapper and model, said she used to be critical of Donald Trump, but she changed her mind after talking about the former president’s tenure with her father.
Rose also spoke about being a mother, and she said she believes American families were better served by the former president. She joked that a vote for Trump this fall was a “vote to make America great again.”
− Marina Pitofsky
Trump makes first public appearance since assassination attempt
The former president made his first public appearance since Saturday’s shooting − cameras in the convention hall filmed him walking down a hall toward a seating area to watch the proceedings. He had a large bandage on his ear after he was injured in the assassination attempt.
Trump waved as the crowd roared and the cover band played a version of “So Caught Up in You.”
− David Jackson
Charlie Kirk courts young voters
Charlie Kirk, founder of conservative organization Turning Point USA, called on young Republican voters as he criticized the Biden administration for high housing prices.
“You see, young people are idealists. They respond to vision. For the past four years, they’ve seen the vision of the Biden Harris regime. That vision is you’ll own nothing and be happy,” he saidin his remarks.
“Donald Trump refuses to accept this fake pathetic, mutilated version of the American dream,” he later added. “When he was president, young people were richer than ever before and he will do it again.”
Numerous polls have shown that Biden has lost some steam with young voters over issues such as the economy and his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“To all the Gen Zers watching this convention on TikTok right now, I have a message just for you. You don’t have to stay poor,” Kirk said. “You don’t have to accept being worse off than your parents did. You don’t have to feel aimless and unhappy. You don’t have to support leaders who lied to you and took advantage of you for your votes.”
−Sudiksha Kochi
Biden jabs Vance during interview
Joe Biden took a jab at Donald Trump running mate J.D. Vance for his past criticisms of the former president during a Monday interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt.
Biden did not seemed phased by Vance’s selection. Vance has adopted the “same policies” as the Republican nominee, he said.
Restrictions on abortion, extensive tax cuts, skepticism of man-man climate change, “He’s signed on to the Trump agenda,” Biden added. “Which he should if he’s running with Trump.”
− Francesca Chambers
Trump appears at the convention – by video
The former president made his first convention appearance by video, urging delegates to make sure they get people out to vote − by mail if necessary.
Trump has criticized mail-in ballots in the past, but they are now a key part of the GOP’s get-out-the-vote plan. Trump also urged Republicans to “protect the vote” by watching out for alleged voter fraud in 2024.
“Keep your eyes open,” Trump said on the video. The president has long falsely alleged that voter fraud impacted the 2020 race for the White House.
− David Jackson
Byron Donalds addresses education, backs Donald Trump’s education plans
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., opened his convention speech by thanking his mother, who he said saw his educational potential and fought for him to go to private school.
“My mother took me out of public school because she could see that public education was failing me,” he said. “I needed to be challenged, and I needed the opportunity that only a private school could provide… (Democrats_ wanted to trap me in a failing school, but my mom fought for me. Mom, I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you.”
Donalds argued that if Trump is elected in November, parent would get further choice over what their children are taught in schools.
“If there was ever a time in our nation to come together, that time is now with Trump,” he said.
− Sudiksha Kochi
Kristi Noem says Republicans ‘have to get to work’
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem told Republicans during her convention speech that Republicans “have to get to work” if they’re going to notch victories this fall.
“Now is the time to unite,” Noem said. “And we have to get to work. We have to win the hearts and minds of every single American, wake them up with truth and with wisdom. We need to listen to them. You can’t win people over by arguing with them.”
The governor urged Republicans to talk with their loved ones and people in their community ahead of this fall’s election.
− Marina Pitofsky
Glenn Youngkin: ‘Joe must go’
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin opened his speech by telling his fellow Republicans that “Joe must go.” He touted Trump’s handling of the economy, the energy industry and military.
“I’m proud to be a homegrown Virginian from a family, like a lot of families, with ups and downs and highs and lows,” he said. “My mom was a nurse and she was my hero. She bought our family together after my dad lost his job. At 15 washing dishes and flipping eggs. I learned that there is dignity in work.”
Virginia has been a state in play for this year’s elections, especially as Youngkin, a businessman, defeated his Democratic opponent Terry McAuliffe in the 2021 gubernatorial race marking the first time a Republican has won the state’s governor’s office since 2009.
“I believe this year, Virginia will elect another Republican (outsider) businessman as President of the United States,” he said. Hillary Clinton had won Virginia in 2016 and President Joe Biden won the state in 2020.
− Sudiksha Kochi
‘If you didn’t believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now’
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina told convention-goers Monday, “If you didn’t believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now,” in a convention address heavy on references to the Republican’s Christian faith.
“Our God still saves. He still delivers,” Scott said, referencing the devastating shooting at Donald Trump’s Saturday rally. “Because on Saturday, the devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle. But an American lion got back up on his feet, and he roared.”
Scott ran his own campaign for president before dropping out in November and was then rumored to be on the list of Trump’s potential vice presidential picks.
“Joe Biden is asleep at the wheel, and we’re headed over a cliff,” the senator said Monday. “…America we deserve better.”
− Savannah Kuchar
Katie Britt reaches out to parents in convention remarks
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., in her address at the convention appealed to parents and families as she slammed the economy under the Biden administration.
“To my fellow moms and dads across America, I think we all know that raising a family is hard – add in smartphones and social media, and we already have plenty to worry about,” she said. “But then Joe Biden and Kamala Harris came around. Now our lives are that much more difficult.”
It was the first high-profile moment for Britt since her rebuttal to Biden’s State of the Union address earlier this year. Britt faced scrutiny and jokes after in March after the address, but Trump praised her after the speech, saying she was a “GREAT contrast to an Angry, and obviously very Disturbed ‘President.”
In her convention speech, she told Americans across the country “We will defeat decline, dust off our dreams and forge our future because families across our nation deserve better once again.”
−Sudiksha Kochi
Rep. Wesley Hunt slams Biden administration over economy
Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, criticized Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their handling of the economy and inflation rates as he addressed a crowd of convention attendees, alleging that they have “no empathy or remorse as the American people suffer from their failed leadership.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, that is why we must win in November,” the GOP lawmaker said. He added that “we owe it to future generations to embrace this pivotal moment.”
“I risked my life in combat to preserve this nation,” he said, a reference to his military service. “Now, there’s another man who was putting it all on the line to save our nation. His name is President Donald Trump.”
– Sudiksha Kochi
North Carolina Republican Mark Robinson touts Trump economy
Mark Robinson, North Carolina’s lieutenant governor and the state’s Republican gubernatorial nominee, criticized Joe Biden’s handling of the economy, pointing to inflation hitting Americans’ wallets.
“But there is hope,” the controversial Tar Heel State candidate said, addressing his own financial and employment struggles in his address. “And I’m proof. My wife and I never gave up. We kept our faith.”
Robinson has appeared with Trump on the campaign trail previously, each Republican nominee having endorsed the other.
“The brave heart of our time President Trump had our economy roaring.” Robinson said Monday, before exiting under a “Make America wealthy once again” backdrop.
“Under President Trump the American dream was alive and well,” he continued. “Under President Trump there was hope. And we need that now more than ever.”
– Savannah Kuchar
Marjorie Taylor Greene at RNC: ‘The American spirit is alive and well’
Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene led the first evening of speakers at this year’s GOP convention. The firebrand conservative called the day a celebration, hours after Trump became the official Republican presidential nominee.
“The American spirit is alive and well,” Greene said.
“Unfortunately,” she continued, “this is also a somber moment for our nation. Two days ago, evil came for the man we admire and love so much. I thank God that His hand was on President Trump.”
Greene also acknowledged Corey Comperatore, who died while attending Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania Saturday.
“We will honor Corey’s memory by building the country he wanted,” Greene said, adding, “For far too long the establishment in Washington has sold us out. They promised unity and delivered division.”
– Savannah Kuchar
Chairman of RNC calls for unity in convention remarks
Michael Whatley, chair of the Republican National Committee, called for unity in both the GOP and as a nation in his remarks to convention attendees following the attempted assassination against Trump over the weekend.
“We must unite as a party and we must unite as a nation. We must show the same strength and resilience as President Trump and lead this nation to a greater future,” he said.
He added that the election is not just about the next four years, but it’s about “future generations of Americans to come.”
– Sudiksha Kochi
Harris reached out to Vance
Vice President Kamala Harris reached out to J.D. Vance and left him a message to congratulate him after Trump officially selected the Ohio senator as his running mate, according to the Biden-Harris campaign.
The campaign added that Harris hoped she’ll see Vance during a vice presidential debate, though some details are still in the works for the traditional event.
– David Jackson and Marina Pitofsky
Delegates return to convention floor
Delegates at the Republican convention and other GOP officials have returned to the convention floor for the evening’s proceedings and speeches.
– Marina Pitofsky
Who is the band playing at the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee?
The band playing at the RNC is in the spotlight on Monday during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
And when the teleprompter experienced a malfunction, the band got to show off more of its set.
But that was OK for many since people were loving the country music band, Sixwire.
Here’s what to know about the band at the RNC.
Read more here:Who is the band playing at the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee?
– Christopher Kuhagen
J.D. Vance once compared Trump to Hitler. Now they are running mates
Eight years ago, in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, J.D. Vance was a bitter critic of Donald Trump.
Publicly, he called the Republican presidential candidate an “idiot” and said he was “reprehensible.” Privately, he compared him to Adolf Hitler.
But by the time the former president tapped Vance to be his running mate on Monday, the Ohio native had become one of Trump’s most ardent defenders, standing by his side even when other high-profile Republicans declined to do so.
– Reuters
RNC schedule tonight
The lineup of speakers Monday night includes politicians, businesspeople and celebrities. In keeping with Monday’s theme focused on the economy, speakers also include Americans who are struggling to buy homes or pay for groceries.
Among the speakers tonight are:
- Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, with the invocation
- RNC Chair Michael Whatley
- Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.
- Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who was seen as under consideration to be Trump’s vice president
- Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
- South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem
- Venture capitalist David Sacks
- Charlie Kirk, CEO and co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who chairs the RNC’s platform committee
- Amber Rose, a former reality TV star and Trump supporter who had a past relationship with rapper Kanye West
- Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
– Sarah Volpenhein
How many days is the RNC convention?
The Republican convention will continue through Thursday, when Donald Trump is expected to formally accept the Republican nomination.
– Marina Pitofsky
Biden calls Vance a ‘clone of Trump on the issues’
President Joe Biden called Donald Trump’s newly picked vice presidential running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, a Trump “clone” in his first remarks on the former president’s selection.
“A clone of Trump on the issues,” Biden, when asked about Vance, told reporters Monday afternoon before boarding Air Force One en route to Las Vegas. “So I don’t see any difference in them.”
– Joey Garrison
Who is Usha Vance?
Usha Vance, the wife of J. D. Vance is a litigator for a law firm based in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
The daughter of Indian immigrants, Usha Vance grew up in San Diego and met Vance when they both attended Yale Law School. She was a registered Democrat as of 2014, according to the New York Times.
Usha Vance has previously clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Times reported. The couple have three young children: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.
– Sudiksha Kochi and Haley BeMiller
‘We have to be thinking for the future’
Nino Kapitula, 35, a delegate from Washington State said she trusts former President Donald Trump made the right choice in choosing JD Vance. “I’m sure that he has his reasons to pick him and I trust him completely,” she said.
She said Vance is a sign Trump wants his vision to persist in the party once he is gone.
“I like the fact that [Vance] is younger, because we have to be thinking for the future and ahead,” she said.
– Sarah Wire
Delegates formally nominate JD Vance for vice president
Vance arrived to Fiserv Forum Monday afternoon to Merle Haggard’s “America First,” which played as he gave hugs, shook hands and signed autographs with delegates.
“Ohio is the heart of it all, and that is certainly the case once again here today,” Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said as he gave the speech formally nominating Vance for vice president. “The vice presidency is an office of sacred trust. The man who accepts this nomination accepts with it the awesome responsibility to give wise counsel to the president, the represent America abroad, to preside over the senate, and to be ready to lead our nation at a moment’s notice.”
Ohio U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno made the motion to nominate Vance by acclimation, calling Vance a “selfless and brilliant fighter” for “America first” ideals.
The motion was adopted to cheers and chants of “JD! JD!” that rang out through the convention hall.
– Brianne Pfannenstiel
JD Vance enters convention floor
J.D. Vance entered the Republican convention floor on Monday alongside his wife, Usha Vance, and received a warm welcome complete with applause, handshakes and hugs. Merle Haggard’s “America First” played as Vance greeted delegates and others on the convention floor.
– Marina Pitofsky
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Trump in Milwaukee, campaign confirms
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Trump in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this morning, his campaign confirmed to USA TODAY.
“Mr. Kennedy met with President Trump today to discuss national unity, and he hopes to meet with leaders of the Democratic Party as well. And no he is not dropping out of the race. He is the only pro-environment, pro-choice, anti-war candidate who beats Donald Trump in head-to-head polls,” said Kennedy Campaign Press Secretary Stefanie Spear in a statement.
– Sudiksha Kochi
JD Vance would be second Catholic VP in history if elected
If elected, Vance would be the second Catholic vice president in U.S. history, following President Joe Biden’s tenure in the position during Barack Obama’s presidency, the National Catholic Register reported.
Vance was at one point a Trump critic. In a 2016 column he penned for USA TODAY, he differentiated the religiosity of Trump’s voters and those of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, saying the former candidate’s voters had largely “abandoned the faith of their forefathers and myriad social benefits that come with it.”
– BrieAnna Frank
Doug Burgum says JD Vance’s ‘small town roots’ make him strong voice as running mate
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said on X, formerly Twitter, that Vance’s “small town roots and service to country make him a powerful voice for the America First Agenda.”
Burgum, who ran against the former president in the Republican primaries and later dropped out of the race, was one of the candidates on Trump’s vice presidential shortlist.
– Sudiksha Kochi
Vance’s stance on abortion
Where does J.D. Vance stand on abortion rights – and enacting a nation abortion ban vs. allowing states to set their own restrictions?
Shortly after Ohio voters enshrined the right to abortion in its constitution in 2023, Vance told reporters, “We can’t give in to the idea that the federal Congress has no role in this matter because if it doesn’t, then the pro-life movement is basically not going to exist, I think, for the next couple of years.”
But earlier in July, he called Trump a “pragmatic leader” for his stance that abortion rights should be a topic left up to the states. During his 2022 Senate campaign, Vance has said a national abortion minimum was “totally fine” with him.
– Karissa Waddick
Glenn Youngkin applauds J.D. Vance for new role
Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on X, formerly Twitter, congratulated Vance for being chosen as running mate for Trump.
“His passion for America’s prosperity, service as a U.S. Marine, and commitment to our commonsense conservative values are what we need for a stronger America,” he wrote.
– Sudiksha Kochi
Biden campaign slams JD Vance as an enabler of Trump’s ‘extreme MAGA agenda’
President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign immediately slammed Donald Trump’s selection of Sen. J.D. Vance as his vice presidential running-mate, calling the Ohio senator an enabler of Trump’s “extreme MAGA agenda.”
“Donald Trump picked J.D. Vance as his running mate because Vance will do what Mike Pence wouldn’t on January 6: bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people,” Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said a statement.
She said Vance “will make it his mission” to enact policies outlined in Project 2025, the legislative roadmap of the Trump-aligned Heritage Foundation. O’Malley Dillon also pointed to Vance’s opposition to abortion access and the Affordable Care Act and his past comments that he wouldn’t have certified the 2020 election results.
“Over the next three and a half months, we will spend every single day making the case between the two starkly contrasting visions Americans will choose between at the ballot box this November,” O’Malley Dillon said.
– Joey Garrison
‘He’s going to learn from Trump’
Al Couillard, 65, of Florida said Vance will bring youth to the ticket.
“He’s gonna make a great 48th president. He’s going to learn from Trump for four years and be president,” he said.
Couillard said Vance has a lot to learn and there’s no better place than by Trump’s side.
“He’s in a perfect position to learn it all under Trump and his administration” he said. “That’s better than MIT or Harvard or Yale.”
– Sarah Wire
Mitch McConnell gets booed during convention
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was booed by convention attendees as he cast Kentucky’s votes for Trump.
After he finished casting his votes, he smiled and held up a thumbs up as the boos continued.
Though McConnell endorsed Trump, their relationship remains icy as McConnell had condemned the Jan. 6 attack and the two have butted heads frequently. Trump and McConnell met for the first time face to face in June after not speaking to each other since December 2020.
–Sudiksha Kochi
Trump officially clinches GOP nomination
It’s official: Donald Trump is the Republican nominee …. In the least surprisingly development of the week, the Republican convention has formally nominated Trump for another term as president. Up soon: A vote to nominate J.D. Vance for vice president.
Eric Trump delivered the delegates that formally put Trump over the top.
“On behalf of our entire family and on behalf of the 125 delegates in the unbelievable state of Florida, we hereby nominate every single one of them for the greatest president that’s ever lived, and that’s Donald J. Trump, hereby declaring him the Republican nominee for president of the united states of America,” he said.
– David Jackson and Brianne Pfannenstiel
Influential think tank president backs Vance
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts was speaking with reporters at a nearby venue when the news about Sen. JD Vance came out. A grin broke across his face; he is close with the senator.“He understands the moment we’re in in this country, which is that we have a limited amount of time to implement great policy on behalf of forgotten Americans, someone JD Vance personifies,” Roberts said. “At Heritage, we could not be happier.”
The Heritage Foundation is the right-wing think tank that created the controversial “Project 2025” blueprint for a potential Trump second term.
-Riley Beggin
Trump Jr. calls Vance an “incredible” pick
Donald Trump Jr., told CNN on the floor of the convention he believes Vance will be an “incredible” running mate for his father.
“I see him on TV. I see him prosecute the case against the Democrats. I think no one’s more articulate than that,” Trump Jr., said. “And I think his story, his background really helps us in a lot of the places that you’re going to need from the electoral college standpoint.”
Vance is a graduate of Yale law school. His memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” a narrative of his blue-collar roots in Ohio, powered his rise to fame.
The former president’s eldest son, who was reportedly advocating for the Ohio senator, said he learned of the official decision as it was made public Monday afternoon.
— Savannah Kuchar
Residency issue doomed Rubio’s VP bid
The fact that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and former President Donald Trump live in the same state ultimately doomed his chance of being the GOP vice presidential pick this year.
The U.S. Constitution doesn’t prevent both members of a party’s ticket from living in the same state, but the delegates from that state can only vote for one of them.
Rubio’s team had multiple conversation with Trump’s campaign over the last 10 days about the residency issue, wanting to make sure that there wouldn’t be any legal complications if the Florida senator was selected as the GOP vice presidential nominee, according to a source familiar with the discussions. Ultimately, they weren’t 100% certain there wouldn’t be a problem.
It’s not clear if Rubio would have been the pick if he lived elsewhere, but his residency ultimately was a deal breaker. It creates a big complication that the Trump campaign wasn’t able to get past, one that Trump commented on publicly.
Trump told Fox News Radio last week that he and Rubio living in the state “does make it more complicated.”
“You do that and it makes it more complicated, there are people that don’t have that complication,” Trump said.
-Zac Anderson
Trump chooses Vance
Trump’s decision ends months of speculation over who would join the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s ticket as he seeks his political comeback in a November rematch with President Joe Biden.
“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump shared in a post on Truth Social on Monday.
Vance was once a fierce critic of Trump, at times comparing him to an opioid and saying he could be “America’s Hitler.” But Vance changed his tune ahead of the 2022 Senate race, deleted controversial tweets and secured Trump’s support in Ohio’s nasty GOP primary.
-Haley BeMiller
The VP pick is in
The first time we will see the VP nominee in-person will be 4:37pm ET/3:37pm CT, at the beginning of the VP nomination process.
A source confirmed that two finalists – Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum – have been told they were not selected. Tune in!
– David Jackson
Rubio says he’s not going to be VP
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has been told he will not be Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s running mate, sources told Reuters on Monday.
How to watch the RNC
The RNC is not open to the public, but you can stream its events on YouTube, X, Facebook Live, Rumble, Amazon Prime, Twitch and Direct TV.
USA TODAY will also broadcast the convention beginning at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. Viewers can watch the live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/WUV7qDi82uk?si=cPJqDliOCEGDftif
– Elizabeth Beyer
When does the RNC start?
The RNC is slated to officially begin at 12:35 p.m. Central. The first convention session that will run until 4:45 p.m. A second official session will follow at 5:45 p.m. and will last until 10 p.m.
-Elizabeth Beyer
Trump seeks dismissal of all his cases, may not get it
Flush with a big legal victory – dismissal of his criminal case for retaining classified documents after leaving office – Donald Trump is also seeking dismissal of two other pending cases, in part because of the assassination attempt.
“As we move forward in Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
The government is likely to appeal a federal judge’s dismissal of the case in which Trump was accused of mishandling classified documents.
There are no plans to dismiss pending cases in Washington, D.C., and in Georgia that charge Trump with a conspiracy to steal the 2020 election.
Trump has already been convicted in the New York hush money case, and is awaiting sentencing.
In his Truth Social post, Trump claimed that all of the cases against him are politically motivated. He said: “Let us come together to END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!”
-David Jackson
Trump likely to announce running mate today
We will likely get a Trump running mate today.
Sources said the schedule calls for a vice presidential nomination shortly after 3:30 p.m., local time; Trump may make an announcement before then.
Fox News anchor Bret Baier said Trump told him he would announce his selection today.
Stay tuned.
-David Jackson
What will security at the RNC look like?
The U.S. Secret Service has “reviewed and strengthened” security measures for the RNC in light of Saturday’s assassination attempt, its director Kimberly Cheatle said on Monday.
Cheatle said the agency “continuously adapt” its operations during the RNC “to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers and the City of Milwaukee.”
Since the incident on Saturday, she said the Secret Service has also implemented changes to Trump’s detail to ensure his protection through the end of the campaign.
−Rebecca Morin and Karissa Waddick
Trump classified documents case is dismissed – for now
Republicans open their convention Monday after some extraordinary legal news: A dismissal of the classified documents case against Trump, a decision that will likely be appealed.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional.
The government will almost certainly appeal the decision – though Trump could have the entire case dismissed if he regains the presidency.
–David Jackson
Trump expected to announce VP pick on Monday
Donald Trump has yet to announce his vice presidential running mate, and he could do so as soon as Monday.
The former president teased his plans to name his VP last week in an interview saying that he’d “love to do it during the convention” or “just slightly before the convention, like Monday.”
Trump’s VP short list includes GOP Sens. J.D. Vance from Ohio, Marco Rubio from Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
–Karissa Waddick
When does Donald Trump speak at the Republican National Convention?
The presidential nominee traditionally speaks on the last night of the convention, and the vice presidential nominee speaks on the second-to-last night.
Trump may make an appearance and even speak on opening night, on Monday.- Holly Rosenkrantz
Trump says he will tone down acceptance speech after shooting
Having survived an assassination attempt, Trump and his aides are telling people he will go for a softer tone in his nomination acceptance speech on Thursday night.
“Had this not happened, we had a speech that was pretty well set that was extremely tough,” Trump told the Washington Examiner. Now, we have a speech that is more unifying.”
Before Saturday’s shooting, Trump said, “I basically had a speech that was an unbelievable rip-roarer. It was brutal — really good, really tough.”
But he threw out that version, Trump told the Examiner: “I think it would be very bad if I got up and started going wild about how horrible everybody is and how corrupt and crooked, even if it’s true.”
Who is speaking at the Republican National convention?
A list of speakers were released on Saturday afternoon that in illustrated the way Donald Trump has completely remade the GOP as the Trump Make America Great Again MAGA party.
On the list of speakers: Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump Jr., Amber Rose, the University Of North Carolina’s frat brothers who held up an American flag during a Gaza protest, UFC’s Dana White were all on the list.Old guard GOP politicos like Mitt Romney, George W. Bush. John Thune, were not.Of course, new speakers may be added as the convention is reshaped in light of the weekend assassination attempt. For example, Nikki Haley, on the outs with team Trump after the brutal GOP primary, is now speaking.
— David Jackson and Holly Rosenkrantz
When is the 2024 RNC? How to watch
The RNC is scheduled to run from July 15-18.
Trump is expected to be officially nominated by the party for president at the convention and announce his vice president. He is currently scheduled to address delegates on Thursday evening, the last day of the convention.
The four-day Republican convention begins just days after shots were fired in Trump’s direction at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing a rally attendee and wounding two others. The gunman, identified as Thomas Crooks, 20, was killed by Secret Service agents moments later.
— Gabe Hauri
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