MILWAUKEE -- The Republican National Convention heads into its second day 鈥 now with Donald Trump officially as its presidential nominee.
Trump energized the crowd Monday night by entering the arena with a bandage on his right ear after being injured during an assassination attempt Saturday. Expect more speakers Tuesday to mention what they described as the former president鈥檚 strength and resilience after the shooting at his rally in Pennsylvania.
Here's the Latest:
鈥楳y father will always be a fighter鈥
Speaking to Axios' co-founder Mike Allen on Tuesday, Donald Trump Jr. said he felt the 鈥済ravity of the moment鈥 鈥 referring to Saturday鈥檚 shooting 鈥 when his father walked on the stage Monday night at the RNC with a bandage on his ear.
Donald Trump Jr. told Allen that he spent three or four hours going through his father鈥檚 convention speech with him, 鈥渢rying to de-escalate some of that rhetoric.鈥
When asked if the change in Trump鈥檚 rhetoric would last, he said: 鈥淚 think it lasts. There are events that change you for a couple minutes and there are events that change you permanently.鈥
鈥淢y father will always be a fighter,鈥 he added. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 never going to change. But I think he鈥檚 going to do his best to moderate that with where it needs to be.鈥
Don Jr. describes first call with Trump after shooting
Donald Trump Jr. on Tuesday described the 90 minutes when he didn鈥檛 know whether his father was alive after Saturday鈥檚 assassination attempt.
Donald Trump Jr. spoke with Axios鈥 co-founder Mike Allen at an event outside the RNC at Central Waters Brewing Company in downtown Milwaukee. The event was fully packed, reaching capacity with a few dozen attendees having to watch the conversation on a TV outside.
Donald Trump Jr., who was fishing in Florida with his daughter at the time, said it was about 90 minutes after the shooting before he knew his father was OK. When he saw images of the former president with his fist in the air, Donald Trump Jr. said he felt pride.
鈥淭o be shot and to stand up with that kind of resolve, I just told him, 鈥楬ey man, you鈥檙e the biggest bad-ass I know,鈥欌 the ex-president鈥檚 eldest son said.
After the initial happiness of knowing he was OK, Donald Trump Jr. said there was some levity when he asked his father about his hair and Trump responded by saying it was fine even though it had a little blood in it.
Protesters have a stage to speak from, but no audience
A stage set up by the city of Milwaukee for protesters near the Republican National Convention has no audience beyond a few journalists and staff organizing the event.
It opened at 11 a.m. as the closest approved location for speakers near the Fiserv Forum.
But on Tuesday morning there were only two speakers including an 82-year-old Trump supporter who has been sitting outside the convention for three days.
Robert Kunest, wearing a blue baseball cap that says 鈥淚srael,鈥 says he鈥檚 been interviewed by more than 100 journalists during the convention. He walks around the convention pushing a cart that holds a well-worn chair patched together with tape and signs that include ones reading, 鈥淎merica Advances with Trump & Vance.鈥
The Florida man spoke for about 20 minutes into a microphone about Trump, the war in Gaza and the economy.
鈥淲here is everybody?鈥 he said.
Ahead of the convention, more than 100 people signed up to speak on the stage. But city officials say the no-show rate has been more than 80%. On Monday there were only a handful of speakers.
City leaders say they might have opted to join Monday鈥檚 large march that started at a nearby park.
DeSantis scheduled to address RNC on Tuesday night, AP sources say
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to address the RNC Tuesday night, according to a person familiar with the schedule who was not authorized to speak publicly.
DeSantis was seen as Trump鈥檚 strongest challenger for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination until he dropped out right before the New Hampshire primary.
His remarks Tuesday will come the same night that former presidential candidate Nikki Haley is scheduled to speak, putting two of Trump鈥檚 most visible rivals turned supporters on stage in a show of party unity.
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Associated Press writers Christine Fernando in Chicago and Ali Swenson in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
Group of House Dems are circulating letter with concerns about nominating Biden
A contingent of House Democrats is circulating a letter with 鈥渟erious concerns鈥 about nominating President Joe Biden as the party鈥檚 pick in a virtual roll call as soon as July 21, ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August.
The letter to the Democratic National Committee, which has not yet been sent, says it would be a 鈥渢errible idea鈥 to stifle debate about the party鈥檚 nominee with the early roll call vote.
The party had planned the early roll call to ensure Biden would qualify for the ballot in Ohio, but the state has since changed its rules, making the issue no longer relevant, the letter says.
Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., who asked pointed questions of Biden on a call with progressive lawmakers over the weekend, is among those raising concerns.
Homeland Security Committee chair demands that leaders of Secret Service, FBI and more appear
The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee is demanding top leaders from the Secret Service, FBI and Homeland Security appear to discuss the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
U.S. Rep. Mark Green, the Republican from Tennessee who chairs the committee, said in a statement that he wants Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify July 23.
Green wrote that the 鈥淎merican people want answers鈥 on Saturday鈥檚 shooting.
Green has already reached out to the secretary demanding information about the shooting including plans to secure the perimeter where the rally was held.
Trump and Vance to appear at RNC every night, AP sources say
Trump and Vance are scheduled to appear in the hall every night, according to two people familiar with the schedule who were not authorized to speak publicly.
The nominee and his newly minted running mate sat together on Monday night in what was Trump鈥檚 first public appearance following the assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Vance is expected to give his own speech Wednesday night, with Trump to headline Thursday night鈥檚 closing evening.
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Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
Hutchison: 鈥楽ecurity is an important theme of this convention鈥
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison zeroed in on security at the RNC in an on-the-street interview Tuesday morning near Fiserv Forum.
鈥淪ecurity is an important theme of this convention,鈥 Hutchinson, who in January suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination for president, said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to Americans, and with the assassination attempt last week security becomes more important for public officials, but it鈥檚 also important as former President Trump said to diminish the harshness of the rhetoric and hopefully can bring people together.鈥
Hutchinson acknowledged that Saturday鈥檚 assassination attempt was a galvanizing moment.
鈥淲henever you look at the strength of Donald Trump as he rose from that attack it signaled 鈥業鈥檓 here鈥 and we鈥檙e going to continue and not let democracy be defeated,鈥 Hutchinson said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 America. That鈥檚 iconic for America and you can鈥檛 help but contrast that with the debate performance of incumbent Joe Biden.鈥
Pennsylvania delegate to immigration speakers: 鈥楥lose the border鈥
Pennsylvania delegate John Fredericks had a simple bar for Tuesday鈥檚 immigration speakers at the RNC, 鈥淐lose the border. If they鈥檙e here illegally, get them out 鈥 now. That鈥檚 all I鈥檓 interested in. Get them out.鈥
Fredericks, who is from Pittsburgh and was attending the Pennsylvania GOP delegation breakfast at a hotel in Milwaukee鈥檚 western suburbs, said the problem has worsened since 2016 when his concerns were more about Mexican immigrants crossing the border.
Today, Fredericks says he is worried more about would-be terrorists from non-Central American countries using the U.S.-Mexico border as an entry point, as a matter of national security. He said he supported 鈥渢he largest mass deportation in history.鈥
Secret Service director shed more light on rally shooting during ABC News interview
The director of the Secret Service shed more light on the shooting at Trump鈥檚 rally in Pennsylvania, telling ABC News Monday night that reports that the shooter had been noticed by people in the area and local authorities before climbing on the roof where he took the shots took place in a 鈥渧ery short period of time.鈥
鈥淪eeking that person out, finding them, identifying them, and eventually neutralizing them took place in a very short period of time, and it makes it very difficult,鈥 Kim Cheatle said during an interview Monday with ABC News.
Cheatle described the role local law enforcement played in securing the event, saying that the 鈥淪ecret Service was responsible for the inner perimeter.鈥
And, she said, the service had assistance from local authorities 鈥渇or the outer perimeter.鈥
鈥淭here was local police in that building 鈥 there was local police in the area that were responsible for the outer perimeter of the building,鈥 she said.
Protest groups end their RNC demonstrations in Milwaukee
One day after its march in downtown Milwaukee, a coalition of protest groups says its activity in the city is 鈥渃oming to a close.鈥
In a statement Tuesday, the Coalition to March on the RNC said it has no further plans to organize demonstrations around the Republican National Convention.
鈥淥ur endorsing organizations will continue their work to stand with Palestine, defend and expand immigrants鈥 rights, defend women鈥檚, LGBTQ, and reproductive rights, and demand peace, justice, and equity for all,鈥 the coalition said.
The coalition said that in the coming weeks, many of its groups will be looking ahead to demonstrating in August outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Secret Service director says shooting at a rally for former president Donald Trump was 鈥榰nacceptable鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 something that shouldn鈥檛 happen again,鈥 Kim Cheatle said in an interview Monday night with ABC News. 鈥淚t was obviously a situation that as a Secret Service agent, no one ever wants to occur in their career.鈥
Cheatle described her reaction after hearing about the shooting, saying she was shocked and concerned for Trump.
鈥淭his is an event that should have never happened,鈥 she said.
Cheatle was asked who bears the most responsibility for the shooting happening.
鈥淲hat I would say is the Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the former president,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he buck stops with me.
Dems hold event to counter Teamsters union president's RNC appearance
Democrats are seeking to counter the appearance of Teamsters Union President Sean O鈥橞rien Monday night at the Republican National Convention.
They held an event in Milwaukee Tuesday morning to claim that they have the backs of workers, not Republicans. It鈥檚 an attempt to strip away political rhetoric and instead focus on track records in office. O鈥橞rien made the case Monday that the political system is broken and needs bipartisanship, while the union and party officials tied to the Democrats said that Republicans are behind the breakdowns.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said, 鈥淲hen people have the facts and they see the stark choices鈥 they鈥檒l back the Biden-Harris ticket.
Quentin Fulks, the Biden-Harris deputy campaign manager, said that Republicans will 鈥渁lways choose big, greedy, anti-union鈥 interests over workers.
Lara Trump encourages Pennsylvania delegation to vote early
In a flip from Donald Trump鈥檚 past two campaigns, Lara Trump encouraged the Pennsylvania delegation to vote early 鈥 a contrast from the former president鈥檚 long-held, public doubts about early and absentee voting.
鈥淲e鈥檙e taking nothing for granted,鈥 she said, suggesting that banking early votes will help the campaign spend the final stage of the campaign focusing on late deciders.
She also suggested that the map of battleground states was expanding beyond the half dozen or so states that have been the campaign鈥檚 focus so far. She said Minnesota and Virginia had been added to their battleground plans. Biden lost the two states in 2020, though they were competitive in 2016.
鈥淕et ready to see a lot of red on that map,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e have to make it too big to rig.鈥
Lara Trump: 鈥楾he show goes on鈥
鈥淭his is incredible to be here right now and I think we all know why. We may have been looking at a very different situation, but for the grace of God,鈥 Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump told more than 200 Pennsylvania delegates and guests Tuesday morning in a hotel ballroom in Waukesha, Wisconsin, west of Milwaukee. 鈥淕od bless, Donald J. Trump.鈥
鈥淗ere we are. The show goes on,鈥 she said.
Lara Trump was making her first public appearance at the Republican National Convention speaking to the Pennsylvania delegation 鈥 a nod to the assassination attempt against the former president on Saturday and Pennsylvania鈥檚 pivotal place on the battleground map.
鈥淲hat a time to be a member of the Republican Party,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e will be the party through Donald J. Trump saves the United States of America.鈥
Jack Black ends Tenacious D tour following bandmate's comments on Trump shooting
The comedy rock duo Tenacious D 鈥 made up of Jack Black and Kyle Gass 鈥 has canceled the rest of their tour after Gass鈥 remarks about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump over the weekend.
While onstage at a concert in Sydney on Sunday, Gass was presented with a birthday cake and asked to 鈥渕ake a wish鈥 by Black. Gass responded, 鈥淒on鈥檛 miss Trump next time,鈥 an apparent reference to the rally shooting a day before that left the former president with an injured ear. The video of Gass was widely circulated on social media.
鈥淚 was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday. I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form,鈥 Black said in a Tuesday statement on Instagram. 鈥淎fter much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold. I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding.鈥
Following Black鈥檚 statement, Gass apologized on Instagram.
First day of the RNC was 鈥榗alm鈥 overall, Milwaukee's mayor says
鈥淭he demonstrations that occurred yesterday 鈥 they proceeded without any major problem,鈥 Mayor Cavalier Johnson said during a Tuesday morning briefing.
Johnson said two arrests were made 鈥 one when someone tried to climb a fence into a restricted area and a second arrest when a demonstrator was blocking traffic and did not move when officers repeatedly asked her to do so.
鈥淣o one was hurt and there was no significant property damage that was reported as a result of these demonstrations,鈥 Johnson said.
Trump's economic plans include proposed tariffs, tax cuts and no taxes on tips
The first night of the Republican National Convention kept its official focus on the economy Monday even after Saturday鈥檚 shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania in which former President Donald Trump was injured.
Speakers argued that Trump would fix inflation and bring back prosperity simply by returning to the White House as president. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin lamented, 鈥淭onight, America, the land of opportunity, just doesn鈥檛 feel like that anymore.鈥
But Trump has released few hard numbers and no real policy language or legislative blueprints, and most of the speakers Monday didn鈥檛 get into details either. Instead, his campaign is betting that voters care more about attitude than policy specifics. Trump says he wants tariffs on trade partners and no taxes on tips. He would like to knock the corporate tax rate down a tick. The Republican platform also promises to 鈥渄efeat鈥 inflation and 鈥渜uickly bring down all prices,鈥 in addition to pumping out more oil, natural gas and coal.
The platform would address illegal immigration in part with the 鈥渓argest deportation program in American history.鈥 And Trump would also scrap President Joe Biden鈥檚 policies to develop the market for electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Democrats and several leading economists say the math shows that Trump鈥檚 ideas would cause an explosive bout of inflation, wallop the middle class and 鈥 by his extending his soon-to-expire tax cuts 鈥 heap another $5 trillion-plus onto the national debt.
On the campaign trail, Biden is trying to sharpen the choice voters face in November
President Joe Biden will speak at the NAACP convention in Las Vegas on Tuesday, aiming to showcase his administration鈥檚 support for Black voters who are a tentpole of the Democratic coalition and his personal political support.
He鈥檒l also participate in an interview with BET. Tomorrow, he鈥檒l address UnidosUS, looking to bolster his appeal to Latino voters, another crucial Democratic-leaning bloc.
What to know about JD Vance, Trump's VP pick
Trump chose U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio to be his running mate as he looks to return to the White House. Here are some things to know about the 39-year-old Republican now in his first term in the Senate:
1. Vance rose to prominence with his bestseller memoir 鈥淗illbilly Elegy,鈥 a book about his roots in rural Kentucky and blue-collar Ohio.
2. Vance was a 鈥渘ever Trump鈥 Republican in 2016, but by the time Vance met Trump in 2021, he had reversed his opinion.
3. Vance and Trump have a personal chemistry: The two speak on the phone regularly, and Trump has complimented Vance鈥檚 beard, saying he 鈥渓ooks like a young Abraham Lincoln.鈥
Nikki Haley expected to speak later Tuesday
Nikki Haley, Trump鈥檚 former primary rival, was a last-minute addition to the schedule.
The former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor waited two months after dropping out in March to say she would vote for him. Then last week, she announced she would instruct her convention delegates to vote for Trump but wasn鈥檛 planning to attend the convention.
It wasn鈥檛 until Sunday 鈥 hours after the shooting 鈥 that her office reversed itself and said she would speak.
The Trump-era evolution of the GOP was on full display during first night of RNC
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is arguably responsible for the GOP鈥檚 biggest policy accomplishments, particularly in installing conservative judges at all levels of the judiciary. But that didn鈥檛 matter much to the Trump-friendly crowd at the RNC, which greeted the Kentucky Republican with boos 鈥 a tangible rejection of someone demonized as an establishment Republican who has insufficiently supported the former president.
Just a short while later, JD Vance enjoyed a much different reception. The second-youngest U.S. senator 鈥 and the first millennial to appear on a major party ticket 鈥 received raucous applause when he walked onto the convention floor for the first time as Trump鈥檚 running mate.
The dueling moments offered a window into the changes that have swept the GOP under Trump 鈥 bookending an era in which McConnell has gone from one of his party鈥檚 most powerful leaders and incisive tacticians to getting jeered on the convention floor by his own party鈥檚 activists.
What to watch as the RNC enters its second day
The Republican National Convention heads into its second day 鈥 now with Donald Trump officially as its presidential nominee.
Trump energized the crowd Monday night by entering the arena with a bandage on his right ear after being injured during an assassination attempt Saturday. Expect more speakers Tuesday to mention what they described as the former president鈥檚 strength and resilience after the shooting at his rally in Pennsylvania.
Day 1 of the RNC comes to a close
The Republican National Convention opened less than 48 hours after Trump was the subject of a shocking assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. The shooting, which left Trump injured and one man dead, loomed over the convention with speakers expressing gratitude for the former president鈥檚 survival and resolved to win back the White House in November.
Trump greeted supporters as he exited the arena. He was being protected by a noticeably larger security contingent of U.S. Secret Service agents.
Teamsters president says union group is 鈥榥ot beholden to anyone or any party鈥
Just a week after the AFL-CIO reaffirmed its backing of President Biden, another union leader came and spoke at the Republican National Convention.
Teamsters Union President Sean O鈥橞rien said workers are being taken for granted and sold out to big banks, big tech and the corporate elite. O鈥橞rien said the Teamsters 鈥渁re not beholden to anyone or any party鈥 and will work with a bipartisan coalition.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 care about getting criticized,鈥 O鈥橞rien said as he defied organized long-standing support of Democrats.
Trump gets emotional as he enters the stadium
With a large white bandage on his right ear following the assassination attempt against him, President Trump entered a convention floor where delegates stood and cheered, many holding up signs or their phones to take photos and video.
He was heralded by musician Lee Greenwood, who sang his signature song, 鈥淕od Bless the USA.鈥
鈥淚s there any doubt who鈥檚 going to be the next president of the United States? Prayer works,鈥 Greenwood said when the former president took the stage.
JD Vance recalls the moment Trump called with VP news
JD Vance said his seven-year-old son was being noisy in the background when Trump called to offer him the vice president spot on the Republican ticket.
Vance knew Trump was calling with big news, but he didn鈥檛 know if it was good or bad news for him, the first-term Ohio senator told Fox News host Sean Hannity in his first interview since Trump announced his pick.
He said Trump also asked to speak to his son.
鈥淭he guy just got shot a couple of days ago, and he takes the time to talk to my seven-year-old,鈥 Vance said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a moment I鈥檒l never forget.鈥
He said he and Trump have been close since Trump endorsed him in his 2022 Senate race, which he said he would not have won without Trump鈥檚 support.
