On the first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC), the party was enthusiastic about its traditional nominating convention, despite a mass shooting at one of Donald Trump’s rally just 48 hours earlier.
Delegates formally nominated Trump as the party’s candidate, and the former president finally announced Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate amid wild celebrations among attendees. Speakers throughout the day acknowledged the assassination attempt but mostly sought to deliver uplifting messages, calling on conservatives to unite and retake the White House.
Here are five takeaways from the first day of the RNC:
The shooting did not dampen the celebrations.
Just a day before the former president was due to arrive in Milwaukee, Trump was nearly killed at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman grazed him by the ear and killed an attendee.
Despite the shocking incident, President Trump went ahead with plans to attend the party convention, but many observers expected the shooting to cast a pall over the Republican gathering.
Instead, the convention crowd was as raucous as ever, celebrating Trump being formally nominated as the party’s candidate.
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Whatley opened the convention with a moment of silence for those who died and the two who were injured.
But the delegates quickly became engrossed in the competition, repeatedly chanting “Fight!” and “USA!”
While other speakers acknowledged the dark developments surrounding the 2024 campaign, the first day of the convention was focused primarily on the nomination vote, the announcement of Trump’s running mate and the first set of speeches.
It remains to be seen whether the incident will receive further attention later this week, with both Vance and Trump scheduled to speak later, but the dramatic assassination attempt certainly did not damper the start of the convention.
Republicans have a good feeling about November
Nominating conventions are usually filled with a febrile atmosphere, with the party’s most enthusiastic supporters in attendance expressing high hopes for what’s to come for the party in November. But this one was especially energized by Republican optimism for November.
Not only does the event come just days after the assassination attempt – which Republicans believe will drum up enthusiasm – but it also comes at a time of growing uncertainty for President Biden, who is facing calls to resign following his dismal debate performance and poor poll numbers.
Meanwhile, Republicans are backing Trump, and recent events have made it clear they are in a great position to win the election.
The most notable example came when, as states were being called to record their votes to make Trump the nominee, delegates from two heavily Democratic states, New York and New Jersey, said they believed Trump had a chance to win the November election.
Trump has said he will expand his reach beyond typical Republican battleground states, and while states like New York are unlikely to win, Republicans are expressing optimism.
“I believe President Donald J. Trump will be the first Republican to win New York state in a generation,” Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York said in announcing that her state’s delegation would vote for Trump.
“New Jersey is a state where President Donald J. Trump has invested heavily, and we believe and know he can win New Jersey this year,” said New Jersey Sen. Michael Testa, R-New Jersey.
Even if Trump fails to win these states, the comments are emblematic of a recent Republican offensive that has included an eye on states such as Virginia and Minnesota and Trump’s visits to traditionally liberal areas.
“Is there any doubt who the next president of the United States is going to be?” country singer Lee Greenwood asked the crowd onstage earlier in the night, to which they responded by cheering and waving “Trump” signs.
Vance received a warm welcome.
President Trump has named Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate, ending months of tension over a “vice presidential election” by installing a former critic as his right-hand man.
Vance received a warm welcome from the convention audience and received support from other prominent Republicans.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who were both seen as potential Trump running mates, also congratulated Vance on social media.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich praised Vance as Trump’s “great vice president.”
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said Vance joining Trump’s nominees would put the country “back on the right track.”
Other Republicans praised the “Hillbilly Elegy” author and said the move solidified “MAGA” support ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Democrats, meanwhile, were quick to denounce their new vice presidential nominee. Biden criticized Vance minutes after the announcement, and the Biden campaign said he was helping the former president.
Still, the positive reaction from Republican attendees was good news for the Trump campaign after months of debate over who would take over the role formerly held by former Vice President Mike Pence, who ran against Trump in the election and has said he would not endorse his former boss.
Republicans emphasize unity over aggression
Following the assassination attempt on President Trump, Republicans on Monday sought to emphasize unity rather than divisive attacks.
Vivek Ramaswami, who ran against Trump in the Republican primary, said on the Politico-CNN Grill that Trump must “fight fire with water” and urged both parties to “stop blaming the other.”
Other prominent Republicans, including Rep. Byron Donald (R-Fla.), South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), also spoke out declaring now is the time for the party to rally around Trump.
“Donald Trump believes every parent has a choice and every child deserves a chance,” he said. “If Trump is elected the 47th president in November, we will make sure every child in America has that chance.”
The exception was Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who in his speech called Democratic policies a “clear and imminent danger,” but later told PBS News that an earlier version of his remarks had been loaded onto the teleprompter and that the revised version emphasized unity.
The former president himself called on Americans to “stand together” after the incident.
At the same time, some on both sides of the aisle are skeptical that calls for unity will last, given the polarization of the country and the fierceness of the presidential election.
It was Trump’s first public appearance since the shooting.
Trump walked into the Republican National Convention to thunderous applause at the end of the night, making his first public appearance since the Butler shooting.
The former president had a bandage on his right ear. He told Truth Social: He was shot at a rally.
Trump pumped his fist into the crowd at a rally in the aftermath of the shooting in a show of strength, and he appeared to repeat the gesture when he appeared before an audience on Monday night.
He was seen standing next to Vance, the newly nominated running mate, in a box next to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Rep. Byron Donald (R-Fla.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The crowd was excited to see Trump, and immediately erupted in applause when he appeared on the screen. At the end of the night, attendees chanted “We want Trump” when Whatley said the party was grateful to have Trump as its nominee.
