MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Monday marked another major political event in the United States: the first night of the Republican National Convention. It brought numerous headlines with it.
The convention, which is being held in Milwaukee, began just two days after a failed assassination attempt on the party’s presumptive nominee, former President Donald Trump. Trump, greeted with a standing ovation from a jubilant crowd of supporters, appeared with a bandage over his right ear, the same ear that was pierced by a bullet during Saturday’s shooting in Pennsylvania.
Trump also announced his running mate Monday: Ohio U.S. Senator J.D. Vance.
Vance, once a Trump critic, has long been rumored to be Trump’s potential vice presidential nominee. He stole the show early Monday, emerging for his nomination as Trump’s running mate in front of a packed crowd at the Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee.
Local lawmakers who made the trip to Wisconsin for the convention tell FOX 2 they support Trump’s decision. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, said Vance is the right man for the job.
“He is qualified, but yet young enough to where if something would happen, he would be able to take over—with his life experience—on day one,” Bost said. “I’m not sure we’ve had that on the Democratic side.”
Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, said he feels his party is energized and ready to win the election in November.
“Republicans are united, and we’re ready to elect Donald Trump President of the United States,” Smith said.
President Biden also reacted to Trump’s pick of Vance as his running mate as he got ready to board Air Force One Monday in Washington.
“He’s a clone of Trump on the issues. A clone of Trump on the issues. So, I don’t really see a difference,” Biden said.
Back in Milwaukee, delegates from Missouri and Illinois made it official, as each state formally endorsed Trump for president.
The large gatherings this week in Milwaukee is accompanied by ramped-up security following the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania Saturday.
Every night of the convention has a theme. Monday’s was “Make America Wealthy Again.”
