CHARLOTTE, N.C. — President Donald Trump officially became the Republican Party's presidential nominee Monday after a scaled-down group of delegates gathered for a roll-call vote at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Trump, who had promised to focus the Republican National Convention on a more positive and upbeat vision for the country, opened his speech as the nominee by attacking Democrats for their push to expand access to mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic.
"It's not fair, it's not right, and it's not going to be possible to tabulate," Trump said. "They are using COVID to defraud the American people of a fair and free election.
"They are trying to steal the election," Trump continued. "Don't let them take it away from you."
When Trump mentioned former President Barack Obama, an attendee shouted something that sounded to some like the word "monkey" and to others like "spygate."
"Let's be nice," Trump said, provoking laughter. He added, "This could only happen in North Carolina," before continuing his remarks.
Vice President Mike Pence addressed the convention just before Trump went over the 1,276-delegate threshold needed to win the nomination, telling supporters that "America needs four more years of President Donald Trump in the White House."
Trump and Pence were on official White House trips to North Carolina on Monday, making surprise visits to the RNC.
Trump is the first impeached president to have been nominated for a second term. President Bill Clinton was term-limited when he was impeached, and President Andrew Johnson failed to secure the Democratic nomination at the 1868 convention after he was impeached. Clinton and Johnson, like Trump, avoided conviction in the Senate.
The Charlotte convention, once expected to draw thousands of people to the city, was forced to dramatically shrink after the pandemic hit.
Just 336 delegates gathered at the Charlotte Convention Center, six from each state and territory, for the state-by-state roll call. Representatives from each state were granted about a minute to speak as they cast their votes to nominate Trump.
Delegates were instructed to wear masks around the convention center, and attendees were asked to get tested for the coronavirus before traveling to Charlotte. Each person was to have another test upon arrival.
North Carolina officials granted the RNC an exception to the 10-person cap on indoor activities. Just a few reporters were invited to the convention floor to promote social distancing.
"We are obviously disappointed we could not hold this event in the same way we had originally planned," Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, said as she gaveled in the convention.
Download the NBC News app for alerts and all the latest on the Republican convention.
Still, the in-person gathering was a sharp contrast to the Democratic convention last week. Democratic delegates cast their votes in a virtual roll call showcasing the individual states and territories, and Joe Biden spoke from his home state, Delaware.
"Joe Biden was going to have his convention in Milwaukee, and he didn't go there," Trump said. "We did this out of respect for the state of North Carolina."
Delegates could be heard trying to gin up some excitement on the floor Monday.
"Okay, honey bunnies, we have to shout a little louder. We have to stand a little taller," a woman told other delegates during a brief recess before Trump's arrival. "It looks really flat from the back, and this is on national TV. The Democrats are watching."
Trump, intent on holding an in-person convention, announced in June that he would move the RNC to Jacksonville, Florida, after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper refused to guarantee that Republicans could hold a full-scale, unrestricted convention.
The Jacksonville plans were scrapped as the virus worsened in Florida. Republicans settled on holding just the procedural part of the convention in Charlotte. The bulk of the events, including the high-profile prime-time speeches, will take place in Washington.
Donald Trump Jr., former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., are expected to speak Monday night.
Ignoring complaints about potential ethics violations, Trump will deliver his acceptance speech from the White House South Lawn on Thursday night.
