Donald Trump’s new running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, will address the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, his first major speech since his selection was announced earlier this week.
The Senator, a military veteran, former venture capitalist and author, beat Florida Senator Marco Rubio and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to the honor and can expect a rapturous reception at the Fiserv Forum, with the nominee’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, also set to address the crowd.
Also expected to speak is former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro who was released from prison this morning having served four months for contempt of Congress.
Trump was back at the arena on Tuesday to watch speeches by two of his old primary foes, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, both of whom found themselves endorsing him and “kissing the ring” after all, having bitterly denounced the former president and the craven conservatives who bow to him this spring.
Vivek Ramaswamy, Ted Cruz, Mike Johnson, and Kari Lake were also among yesterday’s speakers, many of whom struggled to stick to the party’s new “unity” message in the wake of the assassination attempt on Trump over the weekend, quickly reverting to divisive rhetoric and familiar attacks on the media.
Inside the unlikely romance of JD Vance and wife Usha Chilukuri Vance
Sheila Flynn chronicles the romance of the possible next vice president and second lady.
Inside the unlikely romance of JD Vance and wife Usha Chilukuri Vance
When JD Vance began law school at Yale, the Rust Belt native encountered total culture shock — but also met his wife, the whipsmart daughter of Indian immigrants who helped him navigate the Ivy League, healthy relationships and his run for Vice President alongside Donald Trump. Sheila Flynn chronicles their romance
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 18:15
Trump has now called the widow of rally shooting victim
Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old father-of-two, was killed at Saturday’s rally while protecting his family amid the assassination attempt against Trump. Days later, the former president spoke to Helen Comperatore over the phone, according to a screenshot of a Facebook post.
Kelly Rissman has the story.
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 17:55
ICYMI: All the times Trump’s VP pick JD Vance has attacked him
Despite beating out his rivals to be Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance hasn’t always been so loyal to Trump.
Joe Sommerlad has collated all the times Vance he has spoken out against the former president.
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 17:35
Navarro confirmed to speak tonight after prison release this morning
Former Trump White House trade adviser Peter Navarro will be speaking tonight at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee having been released from a federal prison in Miami this morning after completing his four-month sentence for a contempt of Congress conviction.
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 17:33
The most surprising — and expensive — merchandise on sale at the RNC
Supporters show their devotion in all sorts of different ways — through donations, tattoos and, most importantly, buying merch. It’s how party members and delegates at the Republican National Convention have been showing their love for their presidential nominee: Donald Trump. Antwon Williams follows Trump all over the country and has been selling merch since 2015. He told The Independent he’s only missed a dozen of the president’s events since he began his political journey. When asked about how much he’s made on the trail, Williams laughed: “Let’s just say, I’ve been blessed.”
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 17:27
Trump floats outrageous claim that Black Americans are ‘going to die’ because immigrants are taking their jobs
Alex Woodward reports on one of Trump’s latest outrageous statements.
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 17:15
Governor Jim Justice’s special guest steals the show at RNC
Jim Justice, the governor of West Virginia, delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday (16 July) about how “unhinged” America is. However, he wasn’t alone on stage. Babydog Justice, the governor’s four-year-old English bulldog, walked out a few minutes into his speech and took a seat in a black leather chair to his right. Her appearance was met with huge applause from the audience. “She makes a smile and she loves everybody,” the governor said. “And how could the message possibly be any more simpler than just that?”
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 17:00
RNC booth hosts AR-15 giveaway — the same gun used to shoot Trump
The assault weapon is part of a giveaway at a booth for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, an advocacy organization that promotes gun ownership for safety purposes.
Ariana Baio has the story.
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 16:50
Trump backs TikTok as US ban looms
Donald Trump has said he supports TikTok amid a looming ban for the Chinese-owned app.
TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, faces a nationwide ban if its parent company fails to sell it before January. US lawmakers, with the support of the Biden administration, claim the app poses a national security risk due to alleged ties to the Chinese government.
US presidential candidate Trump joined the viral video-sharing app last month – four years after attempting to ban TikTok through an executive order while he was in office after claiming it posed a national security risk.
His change in stance appears to come in response to his dislike of Meta-owned platforms Instagram and Facebook, which suspended him for two years following the deadly January 6 riots in 2021.
Anthony Cuthbertson reports.
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 16:20
McCarthy says Gaetz ‘probably shouldn’t be on the streets’
During an interview with NBC News NOW anchor Tom Llamas at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was asked about a confrontation with Matt Gaetz on the convention floor.
When asked about Gaetz’s motivations, McCarthy responded: “He had an ethics complaint four years ago that he paid an underage girl and she had come to ethics. And he came to me to try to leverage me to stop the ethics investigation. That’s illegal. I’m not doing that.”
Asked if the Republican Party is more Kevin McCarthy or Matt Gaetz, McCarthy told NBC: “I would hope there wouldn’t be another Matt Gaetz in the Republican Party… Everybody has different people in their party. Unfortunately, Matt happens to be here. I think at the end of the day, he probably shouldn’t be on the streets.”
Here’s The Independent’s John Bowden with more on the bad blood between the two Republicans:
Oliver O’Connell17 July 2024 16:00