The four days featured dancing, glamorous celebrations and star-studded speakers, culminating with former President Trump formally accepting the Republican presidential nomination.
Here are some of the most memorable moments from the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Trump explains what happened during the shooting
Trump spoke about Saturday’s assassination attempt for the first time since the shooting, and the audience appeared engrossed.
The room fell silent as Trump began to recount the events, with some delegates’ eyes filling with tears as he spoke.
“A lot of people have asked me, ‘What happened? Tell me what happened,'” Trump said. “So I’m going to tell you exactly what happened, and you’ll never hear it from me again, because it hurts too much to tell.”
At one point, footage was shown behind the former president as he spoke at a rally on Saturday and bullets flew in the air.
“Bullets were flying, but I felt calm,” he said in a speech Thursday night, adding: “It is only by the grace of Almighty God that I am standing before you in this arena.”
When an image of Trump with blood running down his face and his fist raised was projected onto the screen, huge cheers erupted.
Trump also spoke about Corey Comperatore, who was murdered at the rally, and at one point the former president kissed Comperatore’s firefighter helmet, which was on display on stage along with Comperatore’s jacket.
“He was a really fine man,” Trump said.
Vance’s moment of triumph
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) has made his debut as President Trump’s new running mate, stepping onto the biggest political stage of his career so far.
He used it to talk about his childhood upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, and his path to becoming a senator.
“I never imagined I’d be standing here tonight,” he said at the start of his speech. speechHe went on to describe his hometown as “a place abandoned and forgotten by the American ruling class in Washington.”
Vance, author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” used his own story to paint Biden as one of “Washington’s out-of-touch politicians” whose policies are hurting communities.
He was introduced by his wife Usha Vance and shared some personal stories about their lives and marriage.
“My fellow Americans, this moment isn’t about me, it’s about all of us and who we’re fighting for,” he said. “This is about Michigan autoworkers wondering why out-of-touch politicians are destroying their jobs.”
“This is about energy workers in Pennsylvania and Ohio who can’t understand why Joe Biden will buy energy from a petty dictator but not from hardworking Americans at home.”
The Vances sat in the front row of the Trump Suite during the convention, along with former First Lady Melania Trump and Trump’s children and grandchildren.
Trump said he was “thrilled” to have his new partner by his side, and that Vance would be a “great” vice president. Trump extemporaneously noted that he and his wife, Usha, were “great” students, and told Vance to “enjoy the journey.”
Participants wear bandages as a sign of solidarity With Trump
Over the past few days, supporters of the president have been seen wearing bandages over their ears in a show of solidarity with Trump.
Arizona Representative Joe Neglia, one of the first attendees to be spotted wearing the accessory, described it as “the latest fashion trend” in comments to CBS News earlier this week.
“Everyone in the world will be wearing this very soon,” he said.
He was at least partially right: As the week went on, more and more people joined the trend, garnering widespread attention.
A succession of ear coverings appeared, ranging from a similar white piece of paper taped to his right ear to one with the American flag painted on it.
Hulk Hogan gets the crowd going
Former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan dramatically ripped off his shirt while addressing the crowd, calling for “Trumpmania,” a play on “Hulkamania.”
“When they tried to kill the next president of the United States, I had enough, that’s why I said let the Trump mania go, brother,” he said to thunderous applause from the audience.
He was a crowd favorite and drew the loudest and most enthusiastic responses of any speaker.
The former professional wrestler, real name Terry Bollea, first appeared in the ring under his Hulk Hogan persona during a match, and when he first stepped onto the podium, the crowd immediately erupted in “USA” chants, which continued during his speech afterwards.
“When I came in here tonight, there was just so much energy in this room that I thought maybe we were getting ready to win another title at Madison Square Garden,” he said.
Melania makes rare appearance
Former First Lady Melania Trump also attended the convention on Thursday, her only day spotted in Milwaukee.
In his speech, the former president thanked his wife for writing “a beautiful letter to America calling for national unity.”
“It touched a lot of people,” he said, adding that he also thought of “the whole family,” including “Don and Kimberly, Ivanka and Jared, Eric and Lara, Tiffany and Michael and Barron” and his 10 grandchildren.
Melania Trump, wearing a red double-breasted suit jacket and skirt, sat with her stepchildren in a suite overlooking the convention center.
She then joined Trump onstage, shaking his hand and appearing to say, “Well done.”
Gaetz provokes McCarthy
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) staged one of the convention’s most talked-about moments by taunting former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on the arena floor.
Gaetz, who successfully campaigned to oust McCarthy from his top position last year, interrupted the former chairman during an interview on the convention floor, telling him he would be “booed off the stage” if he spoke at the Republican National Convention.
In response, McCarthy told The Hill that Gaetz “seemed really nuts.”
“I don’t know what he’s been drinking, but I hope he gets the help he needs,” he said, “but more importantly I hope the girls get the justice they deserve.”
Several Republican lawmakers have criticized Gaetz over the incident, with Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) calling on the Florida senator to “show more maturity.”
“That’s completely inappropriate,” Thomspon told The Hill on the caucus floor. “You have to conduct yourself with the dignity and integrity that you expect from a member of Congress.”
