Donald Trump’s nomination, his VP pick and his party: Takeaways from the 2024 Republican National Convention

Former President Donald Trump received a roaring ovation as he appeared at the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Monday night. With a bandaged ear, the former president arrived just two days after an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.

The Republican ticket was solidified Monday evening when Trump selected Sen. JD Vance, as his vice presidential running mate. Vance, a venture capitalist and former U.S. Marine Corps corporal, was elected in 2022 to the U.S. Senate in Ohio after Trump’s endorsement, his first public office after rising to political stardom for his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy”.

Despite previously being a vocal critic of Trump, Vance was rumored to be on the vice presidential candidate shortlist after adopting Trump-endorsed policies in the Senate, including introducing bills that would establish English as the official language of the U.S., eliminate federal government diversity programs, restrict gender-affirming care for minors and ban mask mandates in public spaces.

Vance has aligned himself with Trump’s policy platform and has become one of his staunchest congressional supporters, supporting Trump’s false claims of 2020 election fraud. During his nomination acceptance speech, Trump underscored his support for Vance as his running mate.

“(Vance is) going to be a great vice president, he’s going to be great,” Trump said. “He’ll be with this country and with this movement. Greatest movement in the history of our country.”

Night 1

The convention highlighted internal Republican dynamics, with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell receiving boos from the Trump-friendly crowd. In stark contrast, Vance was met with raucous applause, reflecting his rise as a prominent MAGA supporter and symbolizing the party’s shift under Trump’s influence. McConnell, who played a critical role in Vance’s earlier Senate victory by directing significant super PAC funds to his campaign, plans to step down as Senate leader in November.

In a departure from traditional Republican stances, the convention welcomed Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who previously criticized both political parties for neglecting working people. In his speech, O’Brien criticized President Joe Biden, who claims to be pro-union, and reaffirmed that labor should not be taken for granted by any party. O’Brien’s speech reflected Trump’s ongoing effort to appeal to working-class voters.

The convention was intended to focus on economic issues, aiming to attract voters frustrated by inflation under the Biden administration. However, cultural topics, particularly those relating to transgender rights, garnered significant applause and underscored the GOP base’s motivations.

Speakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., staunchly opposed Biden’s policies on transgender inclusion. The debate around these issues was used to further criticize Democrats and bolster support for Trump’s economic perspective despite the absence of detailed party plans to address inflation.

Rep. John James, R-Mich., who received a mixed response from the audience, connected his military service with Trump’s attempted assassination.

“That’s something else me and President Trump have in common,” James said. “The bad guys shot at us both, but they missed.”

Night 2

Despite Trump’s 34 felony convictions, two impeachments, civil judgments for business fraud, sexual abuse, defamation and pending indictments tied to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the convention entered its second day spotlighting cornerstone Republican messages such as law enforcement and border security.

The night primarily provided Trump’s former primary rivals, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, in addition to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, with the ideal platform to pledge their support for his candidacy.

Trump attended the event from a public VIP box as prominent primary challengersDeSantis and Haley embraced calls for party unity. Haley, while acknowledging internal disagreements over Trump, advocated for broadening the party’s appeal. DeSantis delivered a fiercely loyal message, rallying support for Trump’s return to the White House and criticizing Biden.

Haley, who suspended her presidential campaign in March and only was invited to speak after the assassination attempt on Trump, affirmed her endorsement. Appealing to voters opposed to certain Trump policies, Haley underscored the importance of uniting the party.

“You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him,” Haley said. “Take it from me. In this moment, we have a chance to put aside our differences and focus on what unites us and strengthens our country.”

DeSantis, who ended his presidential campaign in January, echoed Haley’s sentiments and the day’s theme, highlighting Trump’s portrayal by the media.

“He’s been sued,” DeSantis said. “He’s been prosecuted. And he nearly lost his life. We cannot let him down, and we cannot let America down.”

Night 3

In remarks Wednesday night, Vance used his Appalachian background, a subject of disagreement among some people from the region, to connect Trump with Americans who feel alienated economically and politically. He criticized Wall Street and multinational corporations and promised to raise wages and counter China’s influence. Vance also targeted Biden’s support for international trade deals and foreign wars, contrasting with Trump’s America First agenda.

“And at each step of the way, in small towns like mine in Ohio, or next door in Pennsylvania or Michigan, in other states across our country, jobs were sent overseas and our children were sent to war,” Vance said.

Usha Chilukuri Vance, lawyer and Vance’s wife, took to the stage before her husband, describing his qualities as a father and partner. As the daughter of Indian immigrants, she detailed how Vance embraced their differences when they met while in law school.

“That J.D. and I could meet at all, let alone fall in love and marry, is a testament to this great country,” Vance said.

Afterwards, Tom Homan, former acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, made an open threat to undocumented migrants.

“You’d better start packing now,” Homan said. “Because you’re going home.”

Some speakers aimed to soften Trump’s image, portraying him as a family man and supportive leader. Kellyanne Conway, former White House senior counselor to Trump, his daughter-in-law Lara Trump and his granddaughter Kai Trump all attested to this image 

Kai Trump spoke fondly of her grandfather, emphasizing her support for him as a family member and as a presidential candidate.

“On Saturday, I was shocked when I heard that he had been shot, and I just wanted to know if he was okay,” Trump said. “It was heartbreaking that someone would do that to another person. A lot of people have put my grandpa through hell, and he’s still standing.”

Night 4

Trump officially accepted the presidential nomination at the convention Thursday evening and received almost double the required delegate votes. He began his nearly 93-minute speech with a detailed recount of the attempted assassination, where he narrowly dodged a bullet.

The former president used the emotional start of his speech to pivot toward a sweeping populist agenda, primarily focusing on immigration. He promised the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and hinted at new trade tariffs, all while repeatedly accusing illegal border crossers of staging an invasion.

“It’s a massive invasion at our southern border that has spread misery, crime, poverty, disease and destruction to communities all across our land,” Trump said. “It is an invasion indeed, and (the Biden) administration does absolutely nothing to stop them.”

Trump also adopted a unifying tone, calling for the end of societal discord and emphasizing his intention to be president for all Americans. He did, however, accuse House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Democrats of conducting politically motivated investigations that undermined his presidency and exacerbated division.

“If Democrats want to unify our country, they should drop these partisan witch hunts which I’ve been going through for approximately eight years,” said Trump. “They’ve got to stop that because they’re destroying our country.”

Despite his softer approach, he did not address key issues like abortion or the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot.

“Our resolve is unbroken and our purpose is unchanged: to deliver a government that serves the American people better than ever before,” Trump said. “Nothing will stop me in this mission, because our vision is righteous and our cause is pure.”

The convention highlighted Trump’s reshaping of the Republican Party since his initial 2016 nomination, with former critics like Sen. Cruz, and Sen. Rubio now offering their unqualified support. Trump’s tenure and political influence remained central themes throughout the convention, underscoring the deep-seated loyalty he has fostered within the party.

Trump and Vance visited Grand Rapids, Mich., Saturday evening for their first rally as nominees and running mates.

On Sunday morning, Biden announced his decision to not seek reelection and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination. The Democratic National Convention will be hosted Aug. 19 through Aug. 22 in Chicago, where delegates will nominate the Democratic presidential ticket.

Summer News Editors Shane Baum and Andrew Baum can be reached at smbaum@umich.edu and asbaum@umich.edu. Daily Staff Reporter Akshara Karthik can be reached at karthika@umich.edu.

The post Donald Trump’s nomination, his VP pick and his party: Takeaways from the 2024 Republican National Convention appeared first on The Michigan Daily.