From Nikki Haley’s standing ovation to “Baby Dog”‘s political predictions, here are the biggest moments from Tuesday night’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1. Nikki Haley captivates the crowd
Former ambassador and presidential candidate Nikki Haley received a standing ovation from former President Trump when she appeared on the main stage, a sign of unity after some heated words between the two on the campaign trail.
Haley, Trump’s main rival in the primaries, offered her “strong support” of the former president in a speech on stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, ending months of speculation about whether she would back him.
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Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks onstage during the second day of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum on July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Joe Raedl/Getty Images)
“You don’t have to agree with him 100% of the time to vote for Trump,” Haley said, “Take my word for it: I haven’t always agreed with President Trump, but we agree more than we disagree.”
2. Ron DeSantis says America can’t afford a “Bernie Weekend” president
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who faced Trump in the primary, was scathing of Biden, telling a cheering crowd that “this country cannot afford four more years of a ‘Bernie’s Weekend’ presidency.”
Mr Trump, sitting in the audience, laughed at the 1993 film, which depicts co-workers holding up their dead boss like a marionette so he doesn’t ruin the holiday.
“My fellow Republicans, let’s put Joe Biden back in the basement and put Donald Trump back in the White House. Life was more affordable when Donald Trump was president,” DeSantis said. “Our border was secure under Trump and our country was respected when Donald Trump was commander in chief.”
3. A mother whose son died of a drug overdose moved the crowd to tears.
Ann Pfandner, whose 15-year-old son died from fentanyl poisoning, moved the Republican National Convention audience to tears Tuesday night with a speech that focused on the importance of securing the border and stopping fentanyl from entering the United States.
Fundner, whose son Weston died on Feb. 27, 2022, said the Biden administration has “done nothing” to help the raging drug epidemic and the border crisis. Fundner was one of several people in the “Everyday Americans” series who spoke about the hardships they’ve experienced living in the U.S. under Biden administration policies.
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Ann Fandner speaks on the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. (Andrew Caballero Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
“I believe Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Border Commissioner (what a joke), Gavin Newsom and every Democrat who supports an open border are responsible for my son’s death,” Fundner said, drawing a standing ovation and loud cheers from the crowd.
“That alone should get them voted out of office,” she added, as the crowd began chanting, “Joe must go!”
4. Morin brothers provide a solemn reminder of the cost of illegal immigration
The family of a mother of five allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant has accused the Biden administration of “opening the border.” to the man who allegedly murdered her.
“Rachel was a cheerful, accomplished athlete and mother of five children who was raped and murdered by a man suspected of being an illegal immigrant,” Rachel’s brother, Michael Morin, told the crowd Tuesday night. “This is being described as one of the most brutal and violent crimes in the history of Harford County, Maryland.”
Rachel Morin had gone for a jog on a trail near her home but never returned. Police found her body in a culvert, covered in bruises and suffering from severe head trauma.
Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, 23, is charged with six counts in connection with Morin’s death, including first-degree murder, rape and kidnapping.
“Joe Biden and his nominee for border chief, Kamala Harris, have opened the border to him and others like him, empowering them to victimize innocent people,” said Michael Morin.
He said he hasn’t heard from the White House, but former President Trump has.
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5. Baby Dog Predictions
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice brought a special guest, “Baby Dog,” to speak at the Republican National Convention, a move that caused a stir on social media as the political crowd rejoiced at the English bulldog’s appearance.
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Former President Trump during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Justice, a Republican Senate candidate running for the seat of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who is not seeking reelection, said Baby Dog predicted that Republicans would maintain their majority in the House in November’s elections, flip the Senate and elect the Trump-Vance duo to the White House by “overwhelming” votes.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw and Michael Lee contributed to this report.
