Former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he takes his seat on the second night of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Crime and immigration are the focus of speeches on the second day of the Republican National Convention. (Maddie McGarvey/The New York Times)
- Former Trump critics Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis spoke, emphasizing unity and Trump's hard-line immigration policies.
- Gov. Jim Justice's bulldog, Babydog, stole the show, and Senate hopefuls criticized Biden's policies.
- Lara Trump was set to close the night, while notable absences included George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Mike Pence, and Mitt Romney.
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A parade of vanquished foes who previously criticized Donald Trump are speaking on the second night of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, most notably Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, as the party seeks to convey unity after the attempted assassination of Trump on Saturday.
On a night dedicated to party messaging on crime and immigration, Vivek Ramaswamy, who spent much of his failed primary campaign lauding Trump, whipped up the crowd, promising that the former president would “seal the border” and deport immigrants in the country illegally. Former rivals who have been more critical of Trump — including Haley, who called him unelectable and unfit for office during her primary campaign — are set to speak soon.
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Here’s what to else know:
A Focus on Crime and Immigration
With the night’s theme “Make America Safe Once Again,” speakers including Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, put a spotlight on border security and Trump’s hard-line agenda of raids, detention camps and mass deportations. Family members of crime victims are also slated to speak, including the family of Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five who was killed while jogging in 2023 on a trail near her home in Bel Air, Maryland. An immigrant in the country illegally who is also suspected of other assaults was charged in her death.
Senate Hopefuls
A string of Republicans hoping to swing control of the Senate in November were among the evening’s early speakers. Kari Lake of Arizona railed against President Joe Biden’s border polices, Mike Rogers of Michigan complained about Biden’s support for electric vehicles and David McCormick of Pennsylvania — who attended the rally where an attempt was made on Trump’s life — praised the former president’s “remarkable strength and resolve.”
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Dog on the Stage
Perhaps the most popular presence on the stage was Babydog, the portly bulldog that Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia planted in an armchair during his remarks. Justice warned the country would become “totally unhinged if Donald Trump is not elected in November.”
A First Trump Speech
The first member of the Trump family to speak at the convention will be Lara Trump, who is set to deliver the closing remarks Tuesday. Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, was made co-chair of the Republican National Committee earlier this year — a sign of Donald Trump’s grip on the party.
Notable Absences
The party’s transformation under Trump will be on display partly because of who isn’t showing up. Among those not expected to attend are former President George W. Bush and his vice president, Dick Cheney, and Trump’s last running mate, former Vice President Mike Pence. Mitt Romney, the party’s nominee for president in 2012, isn’t expected to attend, either.
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Recruiting Kennedy
A video leaked Tuesday morning showed independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talking to Trump on speakerphone. Trump expressed agreement with Kennedy’s anti-vaccine rhetoric and suggested that if Kennedy endorsed him, it would be “so good for you and so big for you.”
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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
By Jonathan Weisman and Maggie Astor/Maddie McGarvey
c.2024 The New York Times Company
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