Coverage of this event has ended. Follow here for the latest updates on the RNC.
What we know
- Former President Donald Trump made his first public appearance since the assassination attempt at the Republican National Convention tonight, a dramatic moment with his injured ear covered in a bandage as the crowd chanted "fight!" — echoing his words after he was shot.
- Earlier today, Trump officially secured the GOP nomination for president. He selected Sen. JD Vance of Ohio to be his running mate.
- Vance, once a vocal critic of Trump, has become a close and outspoken ally.
- In an exclusive interview with NBC News' Lester Holt, President Joe Biden dismissed criticisms about his political rhetoric and his mental acuity.
Republican convention aims for unity — but keeps some of the old red meat
The economy was the focus of the first night of the Republican National Convention, but it was Trump’s first public appearance since the attempted assassination at his rally Saturday that stole the show.
Electricity pulsed through Fiserv Forum when Trump, wearing a large white bandage over his right ear, entered the venue. The crowd erupted into raucous cheers as Lee Greenwood performed “God Bless the U.S.A.” — a song played at every Trump rally — in a moment that made a number of people in the crowd, including the former president’s son Don Jr., emotional.
Trump did not make any remarks, other than mouthing “thank you” to attendees, before he settled into a box seat next to Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, whom he announced as his running mate earlier in the afternoon, and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. Imitating Trump’s remarks after he was shot and stood back up, rally attendees shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
AFL-CIO criticizes Trump's record on unions after Teamsters' leader speaks
The X account for the AFL-CIO criticized Trump's record on unions after Teamsters President Sean O'Brien spoke tonight at the convention.
"Some would love for workers to take Trump at his word & forget what he did as President. But we didn’t forget," the AFL-CIO said on X. "And Project 2025 shows he’ll pick up right where he left off: dissolving unions, gutting worker protections, & defunding whole parts of the government people rely on."
The AFL-CIO has endorsed Biden, but the Teamsters have not yet made their endorsement.
'You’re gonna be so blessed': Pastor imitates Trump for RNC benediction
At the end of the night, James Roemke, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, began his benediction by imitating Trump. “You’re gonna be so blessed,” he said. “You’re gonna be tired of being blessed.”
Convention proceedings have ended for the first night
The convention proceedings have just ended. As Trump walked out, Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" played.
What does Amber Rose's face tattoo mean?
As Amber Rose spoke at the convention, she sported on her forehead a tattoo that read "Bash Slash" in loopy cursive.
Rose, a model and rapper, debuted the tattoo in 2020 as an ode to her sons, Slash and Sebastian.
Rose has been very vocal in her support for Trump, and most recently she appeared in a music video for "Trump Trump Baby" with Forgiato Blow, a popular conservative rapper who interpolated Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" on the track. The song hit a Billboard milestone, becoming a Top 10 hit on two separate charts.
In the music video, Rose mouths the lyrics, "We voting Trump Trump Baby!"
Teamsters head refers to his near-fight with Sen. Markwayne Mullin
Teamsters president Sean O'Brien made a quick reference to an incident late last year — the near-fight he had with a senator at a committee hearing.
At a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing in November, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., a former MMA fighter, brought up a fight he'd had with O'Brien on X and invited O'Brien to settle it physically right there. That led to a back-and-forth between the men, culminating in Mullin’s saying, “Then stand your butt up then," and O'Brien shouting back: "You stand your butt up."
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., had to break up the spat, yelling at Mullin to sit down: "You’re a United States senator.”
O'Brien said in tonight's speech that members of both parties need to "stand their butts up" and fight for everyday Americans.
Teamster president challenges GOP and corporations, gets lukewarm reaction
Sean O'Brien, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters general president, received lukewarm reaction to his speech, especially when he took aim at Republicans who oppose to unions.
"Over the last 40 years, the Republican Party has really pursued strong relationships with organized labor," he said, adding that some in the GOP "stand in active opposition to labor unions."
"This too must change," he said.
“President Trump is a candidate who is not afraid hearing from new, loud and often critical voices,” O’Brien said. “And I think we all can agree whether people like him or they don’t like him, in light of what happened to him on Saturday. He is proven to be one tough SOB.”
Delegates cheered parts of O'Brien's remarks, but also appeared uncomfortable with his attacks on corporations and some of his pro-labor rhetoric.
This is central to Trump's strategy: For every suburban mom or Nikki Haley supporter that they lose, they want to replace them with a blue collar worker.
Teamsters president: 'Elites have no party'
Sean O'Brien, the Teamsters president, said tonight that American workers were being "taken for granted."
He said that the Teamsters and the GOP may not agree on many issues but that they are willing to sit down and discuss topics. He called out both parties, adding, "Elites have no party."
Later, he paraphrased Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., saying both parties in Congress needed to "stand their butts up."
O’Brien said that the Teamsters "are here to say" and that they are not "beholden" to any party. He added that Trump was not afraid to hear from "new" and "loud" voices, and he called him "one tough S.O.B." after the assassination attempt.
O’Brien argued that Teamsters were doing "something correct" if members of both parties were upset that he was speaking at the Republican convention.
The labor union has not made an endorsement in the presidential race, and it had said it usually waits until after party conventions to make endorsements.
Kamala Harris aims to sway GOP women as Trump-Vance ticket takes shape
Vice President Kamala Harris will take a lead role in the Biden campaign’s push to draw attention to GOP divisions during the Republican National Convention, including working to court female voters with a focus on national security and reproductive rights.
On Wednesday, the day newly minted GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance will address GOP delegates in Milwaukee, Harris will hold a moderated conversation with Republican women in Michigan in what the campaign calls a direct appeal to Republican and independent female voters.
She will participate in a moderated conversation with Olivia Troye, a former Trump administration national security staffer, and Amanda Stratton, a former registered Republican who the campaign says will share her personal reproductive health story.
Business owner and retiree tout Trump administration's policies
Two speakers billed as "everyday Americans" praised Trump's economic record in their remarks tonight.
"Under Trump we were thriving. Under Biden we are surviving," said Benjamin Joseph, owner of a home remodeling business he inherited from his father.
He called Trump a businessman whose policies helped entrepreneurs like him pursue their passions.
Mark Laws — a grandfather and retiree living on a fixed income — talked about his financial challenges under Biden. "In the Big Boy Joe economy, I just worry about getting through the day," he said.
Laws added that when Trump was in office, he was "doing great," a remark that was met with a nod from Trump in the front row.
