The Republican National Convention is set to begin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, just days after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. The shooting altered the tone and raised the stakes of the convention, but security officials have stated that there are no plans to expand the security perimeter as there are no known threats.
Despite the incident, the convention is proceeding as planned with the assurance from Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley that all attendees, including delegates, alternates, guests, and media members, will be safe. Trump, in a social media post, announced that he would not allow a “potential assassin” to alter his plans and arrived in Milwaukee a few hours later.
During the four-day event, Trump is expected to officially become the Republican Party’s presidential nominee and announce his running mate. The first order of business will be the nomination of Trump during a roll call of states on Monday afternoon, with Trump scheduled to accept the nomination in his address on Thursday night.
The convention aims to reunite the party and energize delegates and activists for the final stretch of the campaign leading up to the 2024 election rematch with President Biden. As a show of unity, Trump’s final rival in the GOP nomination race, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, will speak at the convention on Tuesday. Additionally, a new slimmed-down Republican Party platform, which softens language on a federal ban on abortion, is expected to be passed during the opening session.
The platform’s approval reflects Trump’s growing influence within the GOP, despite some evangelical leaders expressing dissatisfaction with the changes. Overall, the convention is expected to attract around 50,000 attendees and maintain its original programming with speakers asked not to alter their speeches. The event will provide a platform for Republicans to rally behind Trump and set the stage for the upcoming election.