The first day of the Republican National Convention is underway in Milwaukee, where former President Donald Trump has officially won the party’s presidential nomination and selected Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his vice presidential running mate.
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social as GOP delegates were formally voting to name him the party’s standard-bearer for the third election in a row.
“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” the former president wrote.
Tens of thousands of Republicans, including more than 2,400 delegates, have descended on Milwaukee for the convention, with dozens of prominent lawmakers and officials set to address attendees over the course of the four-day affair.
Trump made his selection for vice president earlier in the day, and Vance will be announced on the floor of the convention shortly after 4:30 p.m. ahead of a vote to formalize his selection. Vance, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum were believed to be on Trump’s shortlist to get the nod, but the first-term senator from Ohio ultimately won out.
The convention comes just two days after Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump was struck by a bullet in the ear and one attendee died after being shot by the gunman, who was killed by Secret Service snipers.
The attack threatened to upend the proceedings in Milwaukee, but Trump quickly said he was determined to proceed and arrived in the city on Sunday evening. He is scheduled to address the convention on Thursday night.
Here’s the latest from the 2024 RNC: