Here’s What Happened At Day One Of The Republican National Convention

The Republican National Convention (RNC) kicked off on Monday, featuring a slate of pro-Trump speakers and former president Donald Trump’s long-awaited decision on his running mate.  The speakers included longtime GOP fixtures, some previous vice presidential contenders, and newcomers into Trump’s ranks of supporters. The former president also made his first major public appearance since ...

Jul 16, 2024 - 12:28
 0  2
Here’s What Happened At Day One Of The Republican National Convention

The Republican National Convention (RNC) kicked off on Monday, featuring a slate of pro-Trump speakers and former president Donald Trump’s long-awaited decision on his running mate. 

The speakers included longtime GOP fixtures, some previous vice presidential contenders, and newcomers into Trump’s ranks of supporters. The former president also made his first major public appearance since a gunman’s bullet grazed his right ear during a campaign rally over the weekend.

The most sensational moment of the day was Trump’s entrance at the convention. The former president arrived to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Trump’s right ear, nicked in Saturday’s assassination attempt, was bandaged.

The day’s biggest news was Trump’s announcement of his vice presidential pick: Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. After the announcement, Vance gave a roughly half-hour interview to Fox News host Sean Hannity on the sidelines of the RNC.

Trump “actually has me put my seven-year-old son on the phone. If you think about this, everything that’s happened, the guy just got shot at a couple of days ago and he takes the time to talk to my seven-year-old. It’s a moment I’ll never forget,” Vance said, describing the call he received from Trump offering the vice presidential slot on the ticket.

Trump and Vance were officially nominated to be the Republican candidates for president and vice president, respectively, for the 2024 election. Trump’s son, Eric, officially put his father over the top with delegate votes to be the next GOP candidate for president. The younger Trump announced Florida’s 125 delegates toward the former president, giving Trump a majority.

Vance was also officially nominated as vice president in a resounding voice vote on the convention floor.

The first day of the convention featured regular faces in Republican circles, with figures such as Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk and Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Tim Scott of South Carolina speaking. Scott was a one-time favorite to be Trump’s vice presidential pick.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who received some vice presidential buzz in the weeks leading up to the convention, also spoke. Youngkin flipped Virginia’s governor’s seat red in 2022, propelled by an explosive debate over biological males having access to girls’ restrooms in schools.

Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, a close ally of the president who was present in the VIP box on Monday evening, also spoke.

The day also featured newcomers to Trump’s camp – one of the most surprising being Teamsters President Sean O’Brien. O’Brien’s speech hit on fault lines within the Republican coalition, targeting the Chamber of Commerce, “big business,” and “elites,” accusing them of colluding against the interests of American workers.

O’Brien’s address made him the first Teamsters boss to speak at the RNC in the union’s 121 years of existence. The address also stood out for its length—the union president received the largest allocation of speaking time for the evening.

Entrepreneur David Sacks, another recent convert to Trump’s base of support, spoke against the U.S. policies regarding Ukraine and the role the U.S. played before and during the war with Russia.

The lineup also featured Amber Rose, a model and rapper, who, according to Democratic strategist Van Jones, gave “the most dangerous speech for the Democratic coalition.”

“We all want a better country for our children,” Rose said. “But I’m here tonight to tell you, no matter your political background, that the best chance we have to give our babies a better life is to elect Donald Trump president of the United States.”

What's Your Reaction?

like

dislike

love

funny

angry

sad

wow

Fibis I am just an average American. My teen years were in the late 70s and I participated in all that that decade offered. Started working young, too young. Then I joined the Army before I graduated High School. I spent 25 years in, mostly in Infantry units. Since then I've worked in information technology positions all at small family owned companies. At this rate I'll never be a tech millionaire. When I was young I rode horses as much as I could. I do believe I should have been a cowboy. I'm getting in the saddle again by taking riding lessons and see where it goes.