Starting from Monday, the four-day Republican National Convention (RNC) will be held in Milwaukee. Unlike previous conferences, this convention takes place following the recent attack on key Republican figure and former President Trump. Security at the convention has naturally become one of the major focal points of attention across various sectors.
Trump was shot and injured in the right ear during a campaign event in Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13th. The assassination attempt resulted in the death of one participant and left two others critically injured. Trump arrived in Milwaukee on July 14th to attend the RNC convention and is expected to deliver a speech during the event.
Here are six key points related to this convention:
The Republican convention kicks off on Monday and concludes on Thursday. Trump is scheduled to deliver his nomination acceptance speech on Thursday.
During an interview with the Washington Examiner on Sunday, Trump stated that following the assassination attempt, he had rewritten his speech for the RNC, making it “a completely different speech” now.
In the revised version, the speech mainly focuses on unity, whereas the original draft primarily centered on President Biden’s policies.
Trump mentioned that the initial purpose of the speech was to energize his voter base, but now he intends to emphasize how the shooting incident against him has altered the course of the campaign.
He stated, “This is an opportunity to unite the entire country, even the whole world.” Trump emphasized that the speech will differ significantly from the version prepared before the assassination attempt.
At this convention, the Republican Party will officially nominate Trump as the presidential candidate. More notably, the speculation surrounds who Trump will choose as his vice-presidential running mate.
According to Fox News reports, Trump may announce his running mate selection on Monday.
Traditionally, the vice-presidential candidate will also deliver a speech at the convention.
For quite some time, Trump’s choice for a running mate has been a subject of intense speculation. Currently, the focus is on four potential contenders: Senators Marco Rubio from Florida, JD Vance from Ohio, Tim Scott from South Carolina, and Governor Doug Burgum from North Dakota.
As revealed by the organizing committee of the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee, approximately 50,000 people are expected to attend the convention. There will be 2,429 delegates from 56 states and territories. As of July 12th, Trump has secured 2,268 delegate votes.
Expectations are set for prime time speeches each night to conclude at 10 p.m. local time, except for Thursday, when Trump’s nomination acceptance speech may end around 10:30 p.m.
Each day of the convention will have a theme revolving around Trump’s iconic slogan “Make America Great Again.”
Monday’s theme is “Make America Wealthy Once Again”; Tuesday’s is “Make America Safe Once Again”; Wednesday’s is “Make America Strong Once Again”; and Thursday’s is “Make America Great Once Again.”
Trump’s campaign team and the RNC announced a list of speakers last Saturday, including Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. and RNC co-chair Lara Trump among several other family members.
Speculated potential running mates for Trump are also listed among the speakers, such as Rubio, Vance, Burgum, and Scott.
According to Bloomberg, calls for unity within the party have also prompted Trump to personally invite his primary opponent and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, to attend the convention. Another source indicated that Haley is scheduled to speak on Tuesday.
Other speakers include Governor Ron DeSantis from Florida, House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, oil magnate Harold Hamm, venture capitalist David Sacks, and former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Celebrities and industry leaders, like TV host and political commentator Tucker Carlson, senior campaign advisor Alina Habba, and Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk, are also set to attend.
Organizers have provided speaking opportunities for “ordinary Americans” composed of school teachers, activists, and business owners.
Following the attack on Trump, security at the Republican Convention has become a significant concern. President Biden stated on Sunday that he had instructed the Secret Service to review all security measures for the event.
Starting Monday, security measures in downtown Milwaukee will be exceptionally tight with major roads closed, and individuals without credentials will not be allowed entry into many blocks.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle attempted to reassure Americans on Monday, ensuring ample security measures for the RNC convention.
“I have confidence in the security plan developed by the Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners. Following the shooting incident last Saturday, we have reviewed and strengthened that plan,” Cheatle said.
Pentagon Deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated on Monday that approximately 1,700 U.S. military personnel, mostly from the National Guard, with a small contingent of active-duty troops, will assist at the RNC convention this week.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson expressed confidence in the city’s security measures during the RNC convention at a press conference on Monday.